Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has weighed in on President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to replace Dr. George Akuffo Dampare as Inspector General of Police (IGP), emphasizing that the president has the right to choose his own security chiefs.
Reacting to the ongoing debate, particularly criticisms from IMANI Africa, Manasseh argued that Mahama should not be compelled to retain Dampare simply because some believe he is a “good man.”
“For months now, my friends at IMANI have waged a sustained campaign on a rather unsustainable argument that President Mahama must maintain Dr. George Akuffo Dampare as the Inspector General of Police because Dampare is one of the few good men around,” he wrote.
He stressed that security leadership is a sensitive issue, drawing attention to historical instances where security chiefs played key roles in coups and assassinations.
“In security matters at the highest level, a lot goes into choosing the head. Until we agree on a non-partisan means of selecting our security chiefs, we should not force one president to work with the security chiefs chosen by his political opponents,” he added.
While clarifying that he does not question Dampare’s integrity, Manasseh maintained that Mahama, as the Commander-in-Chief, must be allowed to appoint those he trusts to lead Ghana’s security forces.
“If Mahama wants Dampare, I have no problem, but we should not force his hands,” he concluded.
Mahama has since sworn in COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the new IGP, marking a new chapter in the leadership of the Ghana Police Service.
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