The Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare, who has always loved the spotlight, finds himself unwillingly at the center of a contentious situation.
Three of his colleague police officers – COP George Alex Mensah, George Asare, and Emmanuel Gyebi, both superintendents, have testified that he, Dr Dampare, was connected to a leaked audio tape that has stirred controversy.
The officers, together with Daniel Bugri Naabu, a former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), were captured in a conversation ostensibly plotting to remove the current IGP before the 2024 general elections.
A committee was subsequently set up to investigate the authenticity of the leaked tape and the claims surrounding it.
COP Mensah, for instance, made several claims about the Ghana Police Service and the IGP. According to him, Dr. Dampare masterminded the recording and had the original tape hidden.
He also alleged that the IGP had political affiliations with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
It was for this reason that the IGP was hauled before Parliament’s ad hoc committee.
The Ghana Report closely monitored the committee’s sittings, and here are 10 key things Dr. Dampare told the committee.
Teamwork and collaboration
Clearly, the IGP cannot function without his able team. It is no surprise that he is always in the company of colleague officers.
On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Dr. Dampare again appeared before Parliament’s ad hoc committee, surrounded by at least 15 police officers, mostly members of the Police Management Board (POMAB).
The IGP acknowledged the significance of teamwork and collective decision-making within the police force.
He highlighted that critical decisions are made collectively by the team, emphasizing that teamwork is essential in ensuring the smooth operation of the institution.
During the committee sitting, the IGP explained that their operational approach, known as ‘united POMAB,’ functions as a chain where every member plays a crucial role.
He stressed that the concept of teamwork was divinely ordained, stating, “The Lord that I serve, he instituted teamwork, and I get incomplete when I’m not functioning in a team”.
No IGP can determine the outcome of elections
Dr. Dampare insists that since elections require collective action, nobody can determine the outcome.
“The most important thing is this, election involves so many stakeholders, and each one has its role. And the police also has its role. An election is a simple matter, where each stakeholder plays its role, and collectively, we end up ensuring that it is over and the people then decide who becomes their leaders.
“So, nobody has supremacy when it comes to an entity or institution or when it comes to its role in ensuring that elections are successful. As far as I am concerned, each stakeholder has to play its role, and since each role is unique, nobody can determine the outcome,” he explained.
I Don’t Have Any Original Recordings
He dismissed claims that he had the original recordings of the leaked tape.
According to the IGP, this is merely another baseless allegation against him by the police officers involved.
“Another wild allegation. I don’t know which of them; which of my brothers, made that allegation, then I could ask the committee to go with me to show me where I put it. I don’t have it. I don’t know about it, so why should somebody come here and make such wild allegations if they have no evidence to prove it?
“I beg of you, I don’t have it, and I pray that maybe going forward, we should make sure that when people make allegations, they at least provide a shred of evidence before maybe an invitation is made for somebody to come and speak to it,” he stressed.
A magnet for human connection
He is not only noted for working in a team but loves to personally check up on his officers — officers who have long been forgotten and ruled out due to accidents.
The IGP told the committee that he developed this habit when he was the Director of General Welfare.
Occasionally, he visits indisposed officers in their homes and tours regional and district offices across the length and breadth of the country.
Dr Dampare said it is his numerous visitations that led to the establishment of the Police Medical Intervention Medical Fund, which allows indisposed officers to travel anywhere for medical attention.
These efforts, he described as “soft touches”, also include a daily routine of randomly calling one police officer in each region who is celebrating their birthday to share in their joy.
In some cases, he orders a cake and surprises the selected officer via his/her district officer.
Furthermore, the IGP highlighted his personal involvement in reassigning officers. He personally contacts officers being reassigned to ensure they have a positive and encouraged mindset.
In cases where officers have urgent personal matters, such as a child about to write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the reassignment is postponed, and another officer is assigned instead.
He said his two favourite words still remain please and thank you, even when addressing subordinates.
I don’t have any working relationship with Bugri Naabu
The IGP said he doesn’t have a working relationship with the former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bugri Naabu.
“Honorable chair, I do not have a working relationship with him [Bugri Naabu]. I know Bugri Naabu and my knowledge of him is the same knowledge I have about most people that I come across and also so many Ghanaians out there”.
He explained that Bugri Naabu has no commercial dealings with the Ghana Police Service.
“I have my aide-de-camp, who let me know if anybody wants to visit me. I cannot tell if there is a record of Bugri Naabu visiting my office. That information is at the reception. What I am trying to say is that he (Bugri Naabu) has not visited me,” Dampare said.
No visits to former President Mahama’s house or office
One of the officers involved in the leaked tape had alleged that secret meetings were occurring between Mr Mahama and the Inspector General of Police.
He vehemently denied allegations that he visited former President John Dramani Mahama.
“I don’t visit former President John Dramani Mahama, and he doesn’t visit me. I’m a professional police officer, we are servants of the people, including the former president.
“Whoever is involved, as long as there is a police service to be provided, I have a constitutional duty and responsibility to get it done.”
I was not part of the decision to interdict or de-interdict the witnesses
On Thursday, September 7, 2023, the police announced the interdiction of the three officers alleged to have been involved in the plot to remove the IGP.
A few hours later, that decision, per another public announcement, was withdrawn.
The police, in a statement, indicated that the decision to suspend the interdiction of the three police officers was to ensure it does not affect the ongoing probe by Parliament.
The police added that the service would commence disciplinary proceedings into the officers’ conduct when the parliamentary probe is completed.
This raised eyebrows, with some pointing to Dr Dampare as being the one behind the interdiction.
But the Inspector General of Police says that is farther from the truth.
According to him, he recused himself from the meeting of the Police Council during which that decision was taken.
I don’t do Politics
The IGP told the committee that he is a professional police officer who does not engage in politics.
“This is also an allegation made to make it look like I am a policeman doing politics. I am a policeman who works professionally and does not do politics. It is falsehood, yes…it is falsehood. It is a lie so they should stop it.
“Honourable Chair, the position of an IGP is to serve the good people of this country of which the former President is one of them and there’s no problem with that.
“But there is a clear distinction between the case when something is not true and some people want to make it look like it’s true and that is shameful,” he said.
Education is the key
Being the youngest ever serving IGP to be appointed did not come on a silver platter. The IGP told the committee he rose through various ranks after joining the Ghana Police Service in December 1990 at age 20.
He emerged as the overall Best Cadet for the 32nd Cadet Officers’ Course and won most of the awards back in the 1990s, during his graduation after rigorous training.
Aside from his policing, the IGP previously worked as a Research Fellow and lecturer at King’s College London, University of London.
He also lectured at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Regent University College, and Data Link University College.
He is also one of the pioneer lecturers at the Business School of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
Having passed the GCE Ordinary and Advanced level examinations as a private candidate in 1989 and 1992 respectively, Dr. Dampare proceeded to study accountancy and became a Chartered Accountant in 1996 at age 25.
He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Finance and Management from the King’s College, London, University of London, and has two Master of Science degrees with distinction in Accounting & Finance, from London South Bank University, UK, and Business Systems Analysis & Design from City University of London, UK.
Dr. Dampare also has a certificate in high-impact leadership from the Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, UK, and a certificate in Leadership and Management from the Aresty Institute of Executive Education, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
I am not holding or stalling people’s promotions
Some police officers had filed a suit at the high court, claiming that the IGP was stalling their promotions.
The 82 police officers led by D/Inspector Kofi Osal claim they are due for promotions after completing their studies through the study leave with the pay policy of the service.
However, they are yet to be promoted several months after the completion of their programmes.
Responding to this, the IGP said “Every one of them with the exception of the few have been sent and the few who are there is based on the fact that beyond the number of years that you have been in the position, there [are] other factors, and I’m told a few is about seven or eight or nine – other factors that come into it.
“And those other factors include competence, including vacancy, include integrity… and beyond that, it becomes the preserve of the police council and from that level they will make recommendations to his Excellency Mr. President for that to be affected.
“So as it stands everybody who is supposed to be promoted based on the junior rank has been done, everybody who is supposed to be promoted based on the senior rank has been done and that is where we are”.
He reiterated that there is no holdup of promotion of any junior officer in the police service.