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Claim: Multiple sources say the Ghanaian government has asked the country’s police chief, Dr George Dampare, to go on leave less than six months into a major election.
Verdict: False! DUBAWA’s checks have revealed that Ghana’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Dampare, has not been asked to take his leave days as alleged. The Ghana Police Service has disclaimed the allegation and described it as “fake.”
Full Text
Ghana is heading to a major election in December 2024 to elect a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The two leading political parties, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), are battle-ready after announcing their Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates.
With less than six months to the crucial election, Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has reportedly asked the country’s police chief, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to proceed on leave.
The news report titled “Jubilation in police over rumours of IGP removal” was first published by Accra-based Daily Guide and has been published by other media outlets here, here, and here.
The report has fuelled some suspicions about the police boss’ possible removal because of what many have described as his “no-nonsense approach.”
According to Accra-based Ghanaweb, the police boss was asked to hand over to his second-in-command, Christian Tetteh Yohunu, because of his alleged role in a leaked audio recording in 2023, which became the subject of a Parliamentary probe.
The audio tape recording detailed a plot by some police officers and a former Northern regional Chairman of Ghana’s governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu, to remove the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Dampare.
The Committee set up by Ghana’s Parliament to probe the leaked tape has since submitted its report and recommended sweeping legislative changes to the structure of the police administration.
Ghana’s largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has warned the government not to alter the structure of the police leadership.
“If this whole hullabaloo of trying to remove the IGP is about the election, President Akufo-Addo should review his mind and go home as a former president; at least in the minds of Ghanaians, he has made some appointments in the interest of Ghanaians,” Deputy NDC Secretary, Mustapha Gbande told Accra-based Joy News.
DUBAWA decided to investigate the claim because of the interest it has generated in the media in West African countries.
Verification
The Ghana Police Service has discredited reports about the removal of the police boss and described them as “fake news.”
Reacting to the rumours in a press statement dated June 30, 2024, on X (formerly Twitter), the police administration said:
“The Inspector-General of Police remains committed to his patriotic duty of leading the Ghana Police Service as per the mandate given him by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
The Public Affairs Directorate of the police administration has asked Ghanaians to disregard “this fake news and treat same with the contempt it deserves.”
News reports on the police administration’s disclaimer are available here, here, here, here, here, and here.
A further search by DUBAWA showed that Accra-based Daily Guide, the story’s originator, has since deleted the report on its news portal.
Also, Accra-based Ghanaweb, which published the report filed by Daily Guide, has updated its report with an introductory paragraph to reflect the disclaimer issued by the police administration.
“UPDATE: The Ghana Police Service has debunked media reports stating that the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has reportedly been asked to proceed on leave and urged the public to disregard the reports,” the media outlet reported.
Conclusion
It is not true that Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has asked the country’s police boss, Dr Dampare, to “proceed on leave” a few months before the 2024 Presidential and Parliament elections.
