
"Sacking IGP Dampare would be a death knell for Akufo-Addo and the NPP's declining legacy."
Why would a lame duck president want to sack the police chief with less than two weeks to hand over the reins of power to a new administration?
Rumour is rife and credible that our unpopular, crest-fallen president is planning to do the unthinkable ---- sack IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare allegedly for thwarting the NPP's election-rigging machinery.
If confirmed, it would be an egregious, vicious use of power by our deflated president, eager to have the last say in the secret spat with the IGP for choosing professionalism over favoritism in the elections.
Men in uniform like Dampare who choose to serve the nation other than kowtow to the whims and caprices of a president deserve recognition other than humiliation, promotion rather than demotion.
Ghana's security services has been brutally politicised over the years by politicians seeking personal parochial interests rather than the national interest.
It is indeed a miracle that the security services still appear to be apolitical in the exterior, in spite of the severe partisan abrasions and divisions underneath.
Akufo-Addo must put Ghana first and publicly commend the Election Security Task Force led by Dr. Dampare for their yeoman's job in keeping the peace despite provocations of party foot-soldiers, mirmydons and sympathisers.
But for the high sense of professionalism exhibited by the Election Security Taskforce led by Dr. Dampare, Ghana could have deteriorated into formidable chaos, akin to the mess in Zimbabwe and elsewhere on the continent.
Incidentally, the politicians who ignited and fueled the confusion at the collation centers are those blaming the police for the post election violence.
Sacking a competent IGP like Dampare would be a death knell for Akufo-Addo and the NPP's declining legacy. In any case, what defect would sacking the IGP correct in our security architecture? Is the president thinking he can impose a new IGP on the new administration before he checks out of the Jubilee House in a couple of days?
Ghanaians love and admire Dampare's humanity, humility, sense of responsibility and interactive approach to policing. If there is an IGP in recent memory who has worked hard to improve relations between the Ghana Police Service and the public, built public confidence in the police and restored their tattered reputation, it is the current IGP.
Should Akufo-Addo sack him, we will launch a campaign for his immediate reinstatement on the basis of his merits, heroics and nationalism.
Dampare is untouchable, as long as he puts Ghana first in his work. The IGP may be appointed by the President, but he may not be so disgracefully removed from office for his boldness in defending the rights of Ghanaians and standing for truth and justice.
Partisanship would kill this nation, but citizenship would build a new foundation for our children's children. Ayeekoo, IGP Dampare!