Nana Ohene Ntow praises IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare’s security arrangements for the December 7 polls, while Prof. Gyampo defends Dampare against criticisms.
Former New Patriotic Party General Secretary Nana Ohene Ntow has praised the exceptional security arrangements put in place by Inspector-General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare for the December 7 polls, stating that they saved the country a great deal.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, December 14, Ntow emphasized that Ghanaians should commend the IGP for his comprehensive security plan despite the immense pressure he faced.
“To be frank, Ghanaians must stand up for Dampare. His security arrangement and strategic planning saved this country. But for him and his team, this country would have probably tipped over. We saw how some recalcitrant soldiers behaved, but Dampare insisted that the only time the military will be officially deployed will be under his instruction and he stayed committed to his promise. God bless him for the work he did,” Ntow noted.
He urged Ghanaians to commend leaders who exceed expectations just as they criticize those who underperform.
Defense against criticisms
Meanwhile, Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, defended the IGP against recent criticisms by ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, describing the comments as unwarranted and unfair. Speaking on Thursday, December 12, Professor Gyampo commended the IGP for his transformative leadership of the Ghana Police Service, which he believes has significantly elevated the institution’s reputation and effectiveness.
“The above is unfair and unfortunate. Respectfully, even though there’s freedom of speech, it doesn’t lie in the mouth of my respected retired police officer to be saying these,” Professor Gyampo remarked.
He highlighted Dr. Dampare’s achievements, including his resilience in office despite challenges, his unwavering commitment to fairness during the recent elections, and his bold defiance of orders that conflicted with his principles as a law enforcement officer. Professor Gyampo credited the IGP with changing the face of policing in Ghana, noting that he has garnered widespread praise, including from opposition parties, for his impartiality and professionalism.
“This is the only IGP who has survived the plot of removal by his own appointing authority for doing his work well. He is the only IGP who could stop the planned massive deployment of soldiers to cause confusion at some voting centres in the just-ended elections,” he stated, adding that Dampare’s reforms have been widely felt across the country.
