The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, says he has never been called by any individual and granted any favour that he does not deserve.
According to him, his rise to the position of IGP is based on merit and not any other considerations.
Appearing before Parliament’s ad-hoc committee tasked to investigate the authenticity of a leaked tape plotting to remove him from office on Tuesday, the 12th of September, Dr Akuffo Dampare said he has been diligent about his work.
“Within the 33 years that I have been a police officer, I’ve risen through the ranks to become Commissioner of Police, and later, His Excellency the President of the Republic Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo honoured me with the position of Inspector General of Police.
“I reported to training on the 1st of December 1990. I completed training as a constable on the 30th of August 1991, and from the constable, within a period of 24 years, I became a commissioner, unprecedented. What is even more unprecedented is that from constable in 1991, within a little period of 6 years, I became a superintendent of police.
“When I joined the service and looked at all the policies within the service, I realised that there is a policy that encourages education, that is, if you attain a particular qualification, you will get a particular rank. So I started my A level also by private studies, and I got my A level done. And as a result of that, on the 5th of April 1993, I was promoted to the rank of sergeant, two years after I had become a constable. Then, in the course of it, I embarked on a professional course to become a chartered accountant,” the IGP narrated.
He continued: “When I became a charted accountant, I made submissions to the police based on the existing police regulation on promotions, and they promoted me based on that qualification to the superintendent of police a year after I had become ASP. I’m one of the few people to ever be in the police service who never became a deputy superintendent of police before becoming a chief superintendent.
According to Dr Akuffo Dampare, he earned his position duly and not based on favours.
“So, in terms of my ranking in the police service, it has been purely based on my competencies, my academic qualifications and hard work because of the passion I have for the work. I have not at any point in time been called aside by any individual and granted me any favour,” he said.
Dr George Akuffo Dampare was invited before the ad-hoc committee following accusations that have been levelled against him by the previous witnesses, which the committee believed should be addressed.
Bugri Naabu, a former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been a central figure in the leaked tape scandal.
The leaked audio recordings purportedly contain conversations involving him and other high-ranking police officials over a plot to remove the IGP to help the NPP rig the 2024 polls.