It’s been barely 24 hours since President John Mahama made a significant change in the leadership of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), removing Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare from his post and replacing him with Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, now IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
In the wake of this decision, videos surfaced showing both civilians and police officers openly celebrating the change.
This sort of jubilant reaction is uncommon, particularly when leadership changes occur within a security apparatus. What makes this situation even more striking is the fact that police officers in uniform were among those celebrating publicly.
Naturally, I found myself asking: why such an excessive display of jubilation following the removal of Mr. Akuffo Dampare? While it’s common to celebrate positive changes in our lives, this situation doesn’t seem to fit that pattern.
We typically celebrate changes that improve our circumstances, especially when we believe that the new development is better than what we had before.
But what if the opposite is true?
If you lose something valuable, would you publicly celebrate that loss? Of course not. You’d likely feel sadness or frustration, and you’d fight to overcome whatever challenges led to the loss.
If, however, you are jubilant after losing something, it suggests you no longer need or desire that thing. In some cases, the joy is so overwhelming it spills out in public, like “tears of joy.”
After carefully considering the situation, I began to wonder: does the jubilant reaction mean Mr. Dampare was failing in his role? so the desire by officers to keep him as their boss is less?
Such jubilation could only stem from the removal of a leader who, in the eyes of both civilians and officers, was a negative influence.
The question of Mr. Dampare’s leadership reminded me of the Bible, specifically the words of Moses in Exodus 14:13: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.”
The Egyptians were a powerful oppressor to the people of Israel. Does the arrival of the new IGP signal deliverance from the perceived “Egyptian” leader that was Mr. Dampare?
Former police detective Samuel Nana Appiah has shared his views on the appointment of the new IGP, following the removal of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show on Friday, Mr. Appiah stated that in the wake of the jubilation, police officers now feel a sense of relief, although they wished the change had occurred earlier.
“For the first time, we’ve seen police officers celebrating the appointment of an IGP. This is uncommon in the police service. When a new IGP is announced, there’s always curiosity about how he will perform and what changes he will bring. It’s rare to see such excitement from officers, and it indicates that something was not right before,” he said.
Retired Commissioner of Police Alex Mensah voiced his concerns about the public celebrations, noting that such behaviour was unprecedented in the police service. “This is the first time I have seen such a thing,” he said.
“There have been changes of IGPs with every new government, but nobody jubilated. Nobody did anything at the National Headquarters,” he added when speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Friday.
This begs the question: why, then, this open celebration when the leadership changed?
Could this jubilance indicate that Mr. Dampare was doing something wrong? If so, could it mean he was an ‘evil IGP’? I believe that such open jubilation is reserved for the removal of a leader who has done wrong, as seen in this rare and unexpected reaction.
COP Mensah also raised issues regarding unfair promotions within the service. “We are praying that Mr. Yohuno will come and correct all these promotion difficulties,” he said, adding that junior officers were sometimes promoted over their seniors without justification.
This point brought to mind accusations that Mr. Dampare had promoted junior officers over senior ones, leading some to suggest these promotions were politically motivated.
If these allegations are true, they would certainly explain the public celebration that followed his dismissal. Perhaps the belief that his promotions were influenced by political loyalties was the tipping point for the officers who cheered his removal.
After the swearing-in of the new IGP, President Mahama urged him to prioritise the welfare of police officers. “Policing is an arduous profession that demands unwavering commitment. It is only fair that those who dedicate their lives to protecting the nation are adequately compensated and supported.”
Does this mean Mr. Dampare neglected the welfare of the officers? That is for them to answer.
While Mr. Dampare conducted himself with dignity in public appearances, the jubilation after his removal suggests that perhaps the real situation within the police service was less than ideal.
Could it be that his public image did not align with his leadership? If that’s the case, perhaps the open celebration is a reflection of the relief many felt at his removal.
Although no leader is perfect and it’s impossible to satisfy everyone, the allegations of politically motivated promotions, the officers who sued him over delayed promotions, and the plot to oust him by some senior officers in the service suggest that Mr. Dampare’s leadership was not universally seen as successful.
This leaves me to wonder whether he truly was an ‘evil IGP’ in the eyes of many.
In conclusion, while I am not in a position to advise the new IGP, I hope he can lead without falling into the trap of partisan politics. With over four decades of experience in the service, he should know the importance of integrity and fairness. I pray that he will continue to learn and evolve, making his mark in history.
As for Mr. Dampare, not every soul can be satisfied, and I wish him the best in his future endeavours, whether or not he was an ‘evil IGP’. May he continue to learn and unlearn.
This article is intended solely as an opinion piece and is written under the rights afforded to me by the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. The phrase “evil IGP” used in this article is not meant to tarnish Mr. Dampare’s image but rather to express the writer’s perspective on the public’s reaction to his dismissal.
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