By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has defended President John Mahama’s decision to replace Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare with Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
Speaking on TV3’s Keypoint, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stated that the President holds the constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss officials, and that the decision to remove Dr. Dampare should not be seen as a reflection of his performance or as a personal matter.
“The Constitution grants the President the power to hire and fire. It is within his rights to thank someone for their service without any implication of wrongdoing,” he said.
His comment follows President John Mahama’s removal of former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
The dismissal of Dr. Dampare has sparked debate, with some critics arguing that an explanation should have been provided in the official notice of his removal, while others believe he should have been retained. However, some maintain that the President has the prerogative to make changes to the leadership of the security services.
Hon. Kwakye Ofosu pointed out that it is standard practice for incoming presidents to reshuffle key positions, including in the security sector. He added that no IGP in the past had been removed due to any specific wrongdoing, making the controversy surrounding Dr. Dampare’s dismissal unnecessary.
“I have heard that some members of Civil Societies have embarked on a spirited campaign to get IGP Dampare retained. That raises a problem because they are attempting to force the President’s hand to make a certain choice, which, in my view, is not beneficial to Dampare because it creates the impression that he has engaged them to do some advocacy on his behalf even if that were not the case.”
He reiterated that the President is acting within his constitutional mandate and that political affiliations should not be a factor in such appointments.
“It won’t be the last time that a new President makes changes to the security service, so some of the narratives must be toned down.”
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