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Governance expert Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah has criticized the handling of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare’s removal, arguing that he should have voluntarily retired to maintain his dignity.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on March 15, 2025, Prof. Agyeman-Duah stated that while the president has the authority to replace security chiefs, the approach to Dampare’s exit was poorly managed.
“For me, my regret for Dampare is that once it became obvious that the president was going to drop him, he should have retired and then gone to the president to discuss why,” he said.
He emphasized that after serving the nation for 35 years, Dampare deserved a more respectful exit.
Prof. Agyeman-Duah pointed to longstanding internal tensions, particularly issues surrounding promotions and the “seniority syndrome,” as factors that may have contributed to Dampare’s challenges.
- In Ghana’s security institutions, promotions are often expected based on seniority rather than performance.
- Dampare’s leadership focused more on merit-based promotions, which reportedly caused resentment among some officers.
“People complained that he was promoting his friends, but maybe these were just better-performing officers,” he noted.
Prof. Agyeman-Duah acknowledged that government transitions often lead to leadership reshuffles within security agencies, a practice seen even in countries like the United States.
“Any president coming to power would like to have top officers who align with his vision of leadership,” he stated.
However, he warned that such decisions must be handled carefully to avoid destabilizing institutions like the police service.
At 55, Dampare is not yet due for retirement, raising questions about his next steps. Prof. Agyeman-Duah dismissed the idea of him taking a lower rank within the police service.
“You cannot step down from IGP to become a director of something. That’s like stepping down from Chief Justice to become a member of the bench,” he remarked.
