Special aide to President John Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari has revealed why the President sacked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
According to Joyce Bawa Mogtari, President Mahama must appoint persons loyal to him, especially when it comes to the safety and security of the country.
Her comments come after IMANI Ghana and security expert Prof. Kwesi Aning ran to the Supreme Court to restrict President John Dramani Mahama from booting out the IGP and other security heads.
According to them, security heads will be unfairly treated if they are removed before the matter which is pending before the Supreme Court is heard.
Their suit follows a statement by the Minister of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu saying, “President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Articles 91 and 202 of the 1992 constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, appointed Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the Inspector-General of Police. He replaces COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare”.
In their suit, the plaintiffs requested the court that “In the circumstance, I humbly and respectfully pray the honourable court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant/Respondent its principals, including His Excellency the President of the Republic, the respective Council of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, National Fire
“Service, Ghana Prisons Service, and whomsoever or however described from removing, terminating, dismissing, sacking, suspending or whichever way described; the Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Comptroller of the Ghana Immigration Service, the Director General of the National Fire Service and the Inspector General of Police from their respective positions as Heads of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service pending the final determination of the suit”.
Reacting to the Supreme Court suit, Joyce Bawa took to his social media page on X saying, “They sat aloof and watched askance as our country was mismanaged, and looked on as former President Akufo Addo made reckless financial decisions and just as many frivolous appointments. Now they run to the Supreme Court to stop President Mahama from sacking IGP Dampare”.
She further defended John Mahama for the sacking of IGP Dampare insisting that the president must appoint persons loyal to them.
“Indeed it is trite learning that Leaders have to appoint persons loyal to them, especially when it comes to the safety and security of the country”, she emphasised.
However, Franklin Cudjoe, founder and president of IMANI Africa, has stated that this development underscores a longstanding legal challenge regarding presidential authority over security agency heads.
“This morning’s injunction filed by our lawyers was in furtherance of a suit filed by IMANI and Prof. Kwesi Aning LAST YEAR, MARCH 2024 at the Supreme Court, 9 months before the December elections,” he clarified in an article.
He further dismissed claims that the move was to derail the newly elected President John Mahama. “It is not about any attempt to derail John Mahama at all,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Paul Adom-Otchere, host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, has accused that former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, of paying thousands of dollars to two high-ranking officials at Jubilee House in a last-minute attempt to secure his position.
Speaking on his Good Evening Ghana show on March 13, 2025, Adom-Otchere claimed, “So, there is a guy called Listowel who went to Jubilee House and asked why high-profile officials were allegedly receiving presents from Akuffo Dampare just 72 hours before his dismissal.
These presents were reportedly delivered to two top-ranking officials. I won’t mention their names, but two high-profile officials at Jubilee House allegedly received money from Akuffo Dampare just days and hours before his removal as IGP.
Where is Dr Dampare getting the money from? Two high-profile officials at Jubilee House, not Felix Kwakye Ofosu, but two others, have allegedly received thousands of dollars from Dr Akuffo Dampare in an attempt to save his position”, he added.
See the post below:
They sat aloof and watched askance as our country was mismanaged, and looked on as former President Akufo Addo made reckless financial decisions and just as many frivolous appointments. Now they run to the Supreme Court to stop President Mahama from sacking IGP Dampare.
Indeed…
— Joyce Bawah Mogtari (@joyce_bawah) March 13, 2025
