My biggest fear is whether next IGP will lead the Police Service better - Dampare

The Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare, has voiced his deep concern about the future leadership of the police service after his tenure. His primary worry centres on whether his successor will possess the competence to uphold and enhance the achievements made during his time in office.

Speaking at an event organised by the Methodist Church, Dampare emphasised the importance of having a successor who is not only capable but also better than him, to prevent the erosion of the progress made by his team. He shared, "My greatest fear in both life and my profession is stepping down from my current position and not having someone more capable to continue the work."

Dampare further explained his concern, stating, "I often pray that if our efforts as a team cannot lead to the appointment of someone better than us to sustain and build upon our achievements, then what is the point? If someone less capable takes over, they could undo all our hard work."

He urged the public to pray for the police service, hoping that future leaders will not only maintain but also improve upon the foundation laid by his administration. "We don’t want to be used as a benchmark to criticise those who follow. Instead, we hope the next leaders will build on what we’ve accomplished, for the benefit of everyone and to the glory of God," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Major General David Taluvu (rtd), the Sierra Leonean Minister of Internal Affairs, has praised the Ghana Police Service, stating that its quality has set a new standard for policing in Africa.

He remarked that other African nations, including Sierra Leone, are keen to learn from the innovations and practical leadership driving the recent transformation within the Ghana Police Service.

During a visit to the Police headquarters in Accra on Monday, 12 August 2024, the minister, who led a delegation of senior police officers, including the Sierra Leonean IGP, expressed their desire to learn from their Ghanaian counterparts.

“Everyone on the continent attests to the high standards of the Ghana Police Service under your leadership. The Ghana Police Service has become the benchmark for the rest of us on the continent,” the Minister stated.

He further commented, “We marvelled at how the Ghana Police has successfully transformed from a force into a service and has effectively integrated itself among the citizenry.”

He emphasised that he and his team, including IGP William Fayia Sellu and Deputy Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, are there to exchange insights with their Ghanaian peers.

In response, Ghana’s IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, who welcomed the delegation, expressed his enthusiasm about the visit, highlighting the importance of engagement between security agencies across the continent.

He noted that the Ghana Police aims to win the trust and support of the public by embodying the role of a true servant to the people.

Dr Dampare also pointed out that initiatives such as the Snatch Them Young Policing programme, which targets schoolchildren, along with enhanced intelligence-led operations and increased visibility, are among the key factors contributing to the service’s success.