George Akuffo Dampare (born on July 14, 1970) is a Ghanaian chartered accountant and police officer. He was appointed as the acting Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 21 July 2021 effective 1 August 2021,[1][2][3][4] taking over from James Oppong-Boanuh who had been serving since October 2019.[5][6]

IGP
George Akuffo Dampare
Logo of the Ghana Police
23rd Inspector General of Police
Assumed office
1 August 2021
PresidentNana Akuffo-Addo
Preceded byJames Oppong-Boanuh
Personal details
Born1970 (age 53–54)
Ghana
Children6
Alma materKing's College London
Ghana Police Academy
ProfessionPolice Officer, Chartered Accountant, Lecturer

Dampare is the youngest Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to be appointed in the fourth Republic of Ghana and the eighth youngest since Ghana gained independence.[7][8][9][10]

Education

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In 1989 and 1992, Dampare passed the GCE Ordinary and Advanced level examinations as a private candidate respectively. He went on to study accounting completing his ACCA course at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) between February 1994 to December 1996 and became a Chartered Accountant in 1996, at age 25.[11][12] He holds two Master of Science degrees in Accounting & Finance from London South Bank University, UK, and Business Systems Analysis & Design from City University of London, UK. He also has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Finance and Management from the University of London's King's College London.[12]

Career

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Police Service

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Dampare joined the Ghana Police Service in December 1990 at the age of 20 as a Police Constable. Dampare was named the overall Best Recruit at the National Police Training School in 1991, after completing his recruit training, and won all awards except the 'Best Marksman' award.[12] In 1996, he was named overall Best Cadet for the 32nd Cadet Officers' Course at the Ghana Police Academy (formerly, Police College) and received all awards, including Excellence in Professional Police Subjects and Excellence in Academic Subjects.[12]

Dampare rose through the ranks, serving as the Vice President's Aide-de-camp to John Evans Atta Mills, Vice President of Ghana (1997–2001) for 18 months,[13] the GPS's Chief Internal Auditor, the Municipal Commander for Cape Coast, the Regional Commander for Railways, Ports and Harbour (now the Police Marine Department), the Accra Regional Police Commander, and the Commandant of the Police Command and Staff College.[12]

In 2014, at the age of 44, Dampare was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police (COP), a position he held until his appointment as Inspector-General of Police (IGP). He has had the opportunity of serving as the Head (Director-General) of almost every major department during his career in leadership and management.[12] He has served as Director-General for Administration and Welfare twice. He was also the Director-General of MTTD, the Director-General of Research and Planning, the Director-General of Operations, the Director-General of ICT, the Director-General of Finance, and the Director-General of the National Patrol Department (Police Visibility Department).[1][2][3][12]

Lecturer

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Dampare has served as a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Regent University College, and the DataLink University College.[14] He is also one of the pioneer lecturers at the Business School of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.

Inspector–General of Police

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On 21 July 2021, Dampare was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo as the acting Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service effective 1 August 2021, taking over from James Oppong-Boanuh who had been serving since October 2019.[5][6] On 8 October 2021, he was sworn in as the substantive Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Ghana Police Service.[15][16][17][18][19]

On 12 September 2023, Dampare appeared before a parliamentary ad-hoc committee chaired by Samuel Atta Akyea about a leaked audio by some police officers and a commissioner of Police, George Alexander Mensah and Bugri Naabu, a former Northern regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a conversation over a plot to remove him as the IGP.[20][21] In the leaked audio, the Police Commissioner is heard telling the Naabu that the NPP should forget winning the next general elections if Dampare remains in office.[22][20]

Personal life

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Dampare is married to Anita Akuffo Dampare with six children, five sons and one daughter.[23] He is a devoted Christian, a member and elder of The Church of Pentecost.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare to be named new IGP". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  2. ^ a b "From Constable to acting IGP: Check out the inspiring profile of Dampare". Citinewsroom. 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  3. ^ a b Nartey, Laud (2021-07-21). "Dampare is new IGP". 3news. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  4. ^ "Kudos, Dr. Dampare! You're Doing A Good Job!! - Nana Akomea Praises IGP". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  5. ^ a b "Oppong-Boanuh appointed Acting IGP, Asante-Apeatu directed to proceed on leave". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  6. ^ a b "James Oppong-Boanuh confirmed as IGP". Citinewsroom. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  7. ^ "George Akuffo Dampare, Biography". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  8. ^ Annang, Evans (2021-07-23). "Dr. Dampare's appointment as IGP is based on merit – James Agalga". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  9. ^ "Akuffo Dampare to be sworn in as substantive IGP today - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  10. ^ "Dampare will go down in history as the best IGP – Dr. Bombande - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  11. ^ Hussein (25 July 2021). "COP Dampare: The UPSA alumni who has risen to IGP". University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Inspector General of Police Leadership". Ghana Police Service. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  13. ^ "FACTCHECK: Did IGP Dampare serve as Atta Mills' aide-de-camp at any point?". GhanaWeb. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  14. ^ "George Akuffo Dampare: Who is Ghana's new IGP?". Pulse Ghana. 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  15. ^ "Dr George Akuffo Dampare sworn into office as substantive IGP". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  16. ^ "Nana Addo swears in Dampare as substantive IGP". Citinewsroom. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Confirmation of Dampare as IGP is the smartest security move – Adib Saani". GhanaWeb. 2021-10-08. Archived from the original on 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  18. ^ "Akuffo Dampare to be sworn in as substantive IGP today - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  19. ^ Nartey, Laud (2021-10-08). "Dampare to be sworn in as substantive IGP today | 3News". 3news.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  20. ^ a b "Plot to remove IGP: COP George Alex Mensah, 2 other officers to appear before committee today". My Joy Online. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  21. ^ Nyavi, Getrude Ankah (11 September 2023). "IGP Dampare to appear before committee probing Bugri Naabu tape on Tuesday". Graphic Online. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  22. ^ Tornyi, Emmanuel (2023-08-28). "Everything on IGP Dampare's secret tape true — Bugri Naabu". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  23. ^ Emmanuel, Kojo (2021-10-22). "George Akuffo Dampare: Who is Ghana's new IGP?". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  24. ^ Quist, Ebenezer Agbey (12 May 2022). "Honest taxi driver, Otto Addo & 5 other Pentecost members who made Ghana proud". Yen Ghana. Retrieved 22 September 2023.