Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has alleged that his organization possesses credible intelligence indicating that the Akufo-Addo administration is subjecting the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to harassment and threats of removal from office.
According to Cudjoe, there is a concerted effort to oust Dr. Dampare before the administration’s term comes to an end.
“His crime? For standing up for peaceful and transparent elections. For denying the government the opportunity to put in motion election rigging machinery, it had long planned for previous by-elections and the one they lost”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Cudjoe alleged that the government, in collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC), is now pressuring election security services to facilitate the re-collation of results in about nine constituencies.
He claimed that certain elements within the government believe they rightfully won these constituencies and are determined to have the results reviewed.
Meanwhile, Critics argued that such actions undermine the credibility of Ghana’s electoral process and could erode public trust in the nation’s democratic institutions.
“Thankfully, the Electoral security services have flatly denied the EC its request to help rig the clear mandate that the NDC has been given”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Cudjoe further expressed deep concern, describing the conduct of certain elements within the government as shameful and a grave threat to Ghana’s democracy.
He criticized their actions, warning that attempts to destabilize the country’s democratic foundations could have serious consequences.
He issued a stern caution, stating that if the government dares to remove the IGP and replace him with a puppet who would enable a compliant EC to overturn the will of the people in the nine disputed constituencies, they would bear full responsibility for any ensuing repercussions.
He emphasized that tampering with these key state bodies for political gain could provoke unrest and destabilize the country’s democratic order. “I sincerely hope that President- elect John Dramani Mahama and the NDC and all civilised Ghanaians will rise to the occasion and deal with these miscreants”.
Cudjoe, Bentil Stress Legal Fight Against IGP Removal
Furthermore, Franklin Cudjoe highlighted that this situation underscores the importance of IMANI’s ongoing suit before the Supreme Court.
He noted that the suit seeks a constitutional interpretation regarding the powers of an incoming president to remove heads of security agencies.
According to Cudjoe, IMANI aims to clarify that the Constitution does not grant any president the authority to arbitrarily dismiss leaders of key security institutions without just cause.
“While we wait on the Supreme Court to make a determination, we should fight the latest thuggish approach to remove an IGP who only served his country”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Accordingly, Cudjoe called on the public to stay vigilant and actively defend civility and order.
Moreover, Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, cautioned that any attempt to remove the IGP or any security chief would be unlawful and show contempt for the Supreme Court, especially with a pending case on the matter.
“We and our lawyers and many others, after reading all applicable laws, are convinced that no president can remove a security chief anyhow without due process contained in their service regulations!!!”
Kofi Bentil
Bentil emphasized that attempts to remove Dr. Dampare are particularly egregious, especially in the wake of a successful election where, despite the heightened tensions, no police officer resorted to violence or caused any fatalities.
He noted that instead, the police displayed remarkable professionalism, absorbing the pressures and resolving most issues swiftly, leaving only a few outstanding.
He argued that such conduct should be recognized and respected, as it reflects the commitment of the security services to maintaining peace and order.
Bentil concluded by stressing the importance of respecting the will of the people and working within the boundaries of the law to preserve the integrity of the nation’s democratic processes.
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