Dampare should have stayed in office until retirement; he was an exceptional leader – Prof Antwi

A Governance expert, Prof. Enoch Opoku Antwi has said he was surprised with the replacement of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare as the Inspector General of Police.

Prof. Antwi’s wish is for Dampare to have been allowed to stay in office until his retirement age, given what he says is Dampare’s transformation of the Ghana Police Service and improved security in the country.

“I was shocked to see and hear that this was true. He’s 54 years, if we had allowed him to continue till 60, I think he would have done a great job for this country because he’s been a great leader, an exceptional leader at the police service.

“I think that there are many questions unanswered as at now. You go to social media because there are different generational people on social media…there are comments like we miss him, there’s going to be a big shoe for this guy to fill when he lifted the face of the police service everywhere,” Prof opined in an interview on TV3’s New Day, March 14.

Prof. Antwi further highlighted Dr. Dampare’s achievement while in office including the taming of land guards and the various initiatives which were introduced during his leadership as IGP.

He said with Dampare’s works while in office, one could see that “he has a clear vision for the police service.”

“If you go to the police headquarters, you will see the massive job that he’s done there…there are camps in the police service and since he came, he’s neutralized the camps.

“With the sacrifice that he’s made, I think politics get into the way of many things but I’ve heard people saying that well the President has to pick somebody he’s comfortable with,” he added.

Prof. Antwi believes Dr. George Akuffo Dampare will be missed.

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, March 13 appointed Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohunu as the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP), according to an official statement from the Presidency.

The appointment, made in accordance with Articles 91 and 202 of the 1992 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, sees COP Yohunu taking over from COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, who has been relieved of his position.

The statement, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications and Spokesperson to the President, noted that COP Yohunu brings forty years of experience in policing to his new role. He is expected to lead efforts in the modernization and transformation of the Ghana Police Service.

Source: 3news.com