Emmanuel Kotin, the Executive Director of the Africa Center for Security and Counterterrorism, has weighed in on the dismissal of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), stating that it is standard practice and within the president’s prerogative.
Speaking in an interview with Johnny Hughes monitored by MyNewsGh, Kotin explained that the decision to remove Dampare should not be viewed in terms of good or bad, as it falls within the authority of the president.
“It’s standard practice. One cannot impugn good or bad here. I think the president has the prerogative to appoint and disappoint whom he feels can better serve his purpose,” Kotin stated.
He emphasized that the role of IGP is not a privilege but an opportunity that any qualified police officer can be given.
“To me, every cop in the Ghana Police Service has the opportunity to serve as an IGP, and I think it’s an opportunity, not a privilege. So, we cannot say whether it’s good or bad,” he added.
However, Kotin expressed surprise at the reaction of police personnel following Dampare’s removal, noting that many officers were jubilant.
“What surprises most of us is the personnel itself—the kind of jubilation and party mode they are in.
“My checks this morning in most of the police stations indicate that most of the personnel are in white. They have ditched the uniform, and it’s so telling,” he revealed.
According to Kotin, Dampare’s tenure saw significant issues within the police administration, including concerns over decision-making and internal policies that did not align with democratic principles.
He specifically pointed to the lack of crime statistics under Dampare’s leadership and restrictions on regional police commanders from speaking on incidents in their jurisdiction without clearance from Accra.
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