Former New Patriotic Party General Secretary Nana Ohene Ntow says the exceptional security arrangement put in place by the Inspector-General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare for the December 7 polls saved the country a great deal.
According to him, Ghanaians “must stand up” and eulogise the IGP for his comprehensive security plan for the polls despite the pressure he would have been working under.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points Saturday, the Alan Kyerematen associate said political parties have been impressed by the boldness and expertise of the IGP.
“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,” Nana Ohene Ntow noted.
He urged Ghanaians to commend leaders when they leave above expectation just as they condemn leaders who underperform.
Meanwhile, Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has defended the IGP against recent criticisms by ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo, describing the comments as unwarranted and unfair.
Speaking on Thursday, 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 stressed 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.
