Dampare should have retired voluntarily to preserve his dignity – Prof. Agyeman-Duah

Governance expert Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah has criticised the handling of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare’s removal, arguing that he should have retired voluntarily to maintain his dignity.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, 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 and it had been going around for weeks, if not months, he should have retired and then gone to the president to discuss why,” he said.

According to Prof. Agyeman-Duah, this would have allowed for a more respectful departure rather than an abrupt removal. 

He emphasised that “the man has served this nation for 35 years in the service” and should have left on better terms.

He pointed to long-standing issues within the Ghana Police Service that may have contributed to Dampare’s challenges. 

He noted that promotions and the “seniority syndrome” have often caused tension, with officers expecting advancement based on years of service rather than performance.

“In Ghana, especially in these institutions, there are two things that seem to matter most: the ‘seniority syndrome’ and how one gets promoted. In the police service, there have been grievances over promotions, and this has been a major challenge for Dampare,” he explained.

Dampare’s leadership style placed greater emphasis on merit rather than seniority, which, according to Prof. Agyeman-Duah, created resentment within the service. “People complained that he was promoting his friends, but maybe these were just better-performing officers,” he said.

He acknowledged that changes in government often come with leadership reshuffles in security agencies. “Any president coming to power would like to have top officers who align with his vision of leadership,” he said, adding that this happens even in countries like the United States.

However, he cautioned that such decisions must be handled carefully to avoid disruptions within 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 possibility of him remaining in the service at a lower rank. “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.