The Ghana Police Service is bracing itself for a potential change in leadership as President John Dramani Mahama prepares to announce a new Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The current IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has been at the helm of the service since his appointment in 2021, but his future remains uncertain.
Dampare is lobbying to maintain his position using discredited CSO’s and so called security experts but the current administration doesn’t trust him having betrayed the man who appointed him.
Sources close to the presidency indicate that with the composition of the Council of State in place, President Mahama is set to make an announcement in the coming days, with two senior police officers, DIGP Christian Tetteh Yahonu and COP Vance Baba Gariba, being touted as potential successor to Dr. Dampare.
The impending announcement has sparked intense speculation about the reasons behind Dr. Dampare’s potential exit.
While some sources suggest that he may have fallen out of favour with the powers that be, others argue that his departure may be part of a broader effort to restructure the police service and restore discipline as well as espirit de corps which have broken down.
Dr. Dampare’s tenure as IGP has been criticized by some, who argue that he has failed to adequately address issues of police brutality and corruption.
He has also been accused of running a one-man show, sidelining all senior officers and POMAB members.
Interestingly, rumours suggest that President Mahama would prefer to maintain Dr. Dampare as IGP, but the National Democratic Congress (NDC) top echelons are opposed to this move.
This internal conflict raises questions about the criteria for selecting the next IGP and the potential implications for the Ghana Police Service.
It is unclear whether these criticisms have played a role in President Mahama’s decision to potentially replace the tyrannical regime of Dampare.