Inspected General of Police (IGP) James Oppong-Boanuh has been shown the exit after his tumultuous tenure of laxity that saw an astronomical rise in crime and insecurity. He has been replaced by COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
Dampare’s appointment was today confirmed by the Jubilee House. He will be acting in the position till he is confirmed as the substantive IGP.
Already, critics are quite hopeful of a drastic turnaround in policing under Dampare, having demonstrated a single-minded intolerance for nonsense throughout his career.
His entry will hopefully erase the blot suffered by the Police Service under Oppong-Boanuh who recently sparked anger among citizens for his complete rubbishing of concerns raised about the rising crime rate and insecurity in the country.
When confronted recently about the insecurity in the country, a dismissive Oppong-Boanuh claimed Ghana is not heaven and thus citizens should be used to the ongoing onslaught of criminals.
James Oppong-Boanuh who is way past his retirement was appointed as police boss by President Akufo-Addo in October 2019.
However, a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communication at the Presidency, directed the current IGP to “embark on terminal leave with effect from August 1, pending his retirement from the Ghana Police Service on October 7.”
Observers have noted that the hastiness of the forced leave was a nice way by the Presidency to fired him.
“Until a substantive IGP is appointed in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution, President Akufo-Addo has asked COP Dr. Dampare to serve as the Acting IGP with effect from August 1.”
COP George Dampare until his appointment was the Director-General in charge of Administration at the Police Service and had been serving actively for over 20 years.
He will be one of the youngest IGPs in the recent past.
He joined the service as a half-literate constable at the age of 20 but had zealously worked his way through the ranks to the highest rank of Commissioner of Police.
His colleagues and political observers know him for his strong-will reputation in the Police Service.
He has served in many leadership capacities in the Service including; Director General (Finance), Director General (Welfare), Director General (ICT), Commandant of the Police Command and Staff College, and Accra Region Police Commander. He is currently the Director-General (Operations) of the Service.
Through grit, he still managed to become a chartered accountant at the age of 25 while serving as a Police Constable and currently holds a PhD in Finance.
He has been an Adjunct Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.
Amongst his credentials include serving as a Special Assistant to the Regional Commander, United Nations Mission in Bosnia Herzegovina; Municipal Police Commander, Cape Coast, ADC to the late John Evans Atta Mills and the Head of Police and Narcotics Desk at the Ministry of Interior.
He is credited for his lead role in the swift arrest of the alleged killer of former Abuakwa North MP, J.B. Danquah.