The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Dafeamekpor has advised the newly appointed Acting Inspector General of Police, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to avoid being partisan in his new portfolio.
According to him, despite owing his appointment to a political government, it shouldn’t alter his judgement on issues.
Congratulating the Acting IGP, Mr Dafeamekpor expressed optimism over COP Dampare bringing a shift to the police service.
COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare was appointed by the presidency on Wednesday, July 21, 2020. His appointment which takes effect from August 1, 2021, comes in the wake of a terminal leave of the current IGP James Oppong-Boanuh.
“I wish he comes to this position with a new paradigm shift in the police service. They’ve taken a lot of flank these days, crowd control issues, brutalisation of MPs when we are simply waling to go and present petitions. He can be political because he owes his appointment to a political actor, but he shouldn’t be partisan”.
Justifying his stance, the South Dayi MP explained that his dispensation of duties should not be politically lenient to any political party.
“I can safely say that given the nature and character of our politics, he may be an NPP. But as soon as you become an acting IGP, you don’t have to approach your work in a partisan manner. I am increasingly becoming uncomfortable with the issue of Acting capacity. We have an IGP who was in an Acting capacity, we are replacing him with someone also in an acting capacity. When do they get to serve in a substantive position? There are a lot of CEOs that are in acting capacities. It doesn’t bring stability to the institution because they are always jittery, they are unable to take firm policy decisions. It’s a new phenomenon [and] I think we need to check it”.
Appointment of Prison Service Director General
President Akufo-Addo also has appointed Isaac Kofi Egyir as the Acting Director-General of the Prisons Service effective Sunday, August 1, 2021.
Touching on his appointment, Mr Dafeamekpor reckoned that Mr Egyir should actively be involved in addressing overcrowding in the prisons.
“I think that the Director General Egyir will use his first two months to visit the prisons. He may be a senior officer sitting at Ring Road but he needs to visit Nsawam… their prisons are choked”.
Mr Dafamekpor further indicated that to address the deplorable nature of the prisons, parliament is working on a private members bill.
“He can liaise with the judiciary and the Ministry of Interior. It is time we introduce non-custodial sentences to affect some offences. When you commit a traffic offence, there’s no point a magistrate sentencing you to a prison term. You get to the prison and the other great phenomenon is the remand cases. Some people are on remand for ten years… As I speak, we are working on a private members bill in this matter”.
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