A UPSA alumnus, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has been sworn in as Ghana’s 23rd Inspector General of Police. He took the oath of office at a short ceremony presided over by President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra.
Dr. Akuffo Dampare becomes the first graduate from the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to occupy the position of IGP.
He joins the long list of UPSA graduates making great strides toward building a prosperous and sustainable nation.
Dr Dampare, 51, was asked by the President Akufo-Addo in July to become the acting IGP following the retirement of Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, pending the appointment of a substantive one.
At the ceremony at the Jubilee House in Accra, where the Oaths of Allegiance, Office, and Secrecy were administered, the President congratulated Dr Dampare on his appointment, which he said was “a well-deserved one.”
He said Dr Dampare had, over the last two months, acquitted himself creditably as the Acting IGP and that he (President) had no option than to confirm him as the substantive Police Boss.
“It’s been an eventful two months since his appointment, and the Acting IGP has left me with very little choice in the matter,” the President said.
“His actions, which have received widespread support and acclaim from the population, vindicates the decision I made to entrust him with the mandate of managing the police, albeit in a temporary capacity.”
President Akufo-Addo said Dr Dampare, who had served the nation dutifully since joining the Police Service, will make an effective leader of the Service and help foster its efficiency.
“He would be walking in the footsteps of the 22 previous occupants of the Office, and I have no doubt that in Dr George Akuffo Dampare, we have a worthy successor to Mr James Oppong-Boanuh and indeed the others who have gone before him.”
The President reminded the IGP of the emerging complex nature of crime and the role of the police in safeguarding the peace, the safety of the people and the preservation of the territorial integrity of the State.
That, he said, would guarantee that citizens went about their normal lives in security and hope to improve the quality of their circumstances.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the most important things for our nation are peace, the safety of its people and the preservation of its territorial integrity. If these are guaranteed the citizens can go about their normal lives in security and hope to improve on the quality of their circumstances,” he said.
“We all sleep feeling safe when the men and women of the Police Service work to keep our communities and our streets safe.”
President Akufo-Addo assured the IGP and the Police Administration that the Government would do all it could to modernise and resource the Service to enable it to maintain law and order, and protect lives and property.
Dr Dampare thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him and gave the assurance that he would, in collaboration with his colleagues, build a Service “that is better than what it is today.”
“We are poised and focused to attain a world class institution. We will position the Service to be one of the best-respected organisations in the country and make it a reference point for Africa and beyond,” Dr. Dampare promised.
The IGP reminded his colleagues in service of the principle that they would, at a point, become civilians, and that the service they left behind would be the same to look after them when they hit the civil stream.
He, thus, urged them to strive and continue to deliver excellent service in the interest of the nation.
Credit: Office of the President/GNA
