Kwesi Pratt Jnr is the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr says former Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare made a clear impact on policing in Ghana, but he has yet to see anything striking about the tenure of the current IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, whose leadership was recently extended by two years.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, hosted by Moro Awudu, Pratt said Dampare introduced a disciplined approach to law enforcement that was felt across the country.
He recalled that Dampare insisted that laws applied to everyone, including ministers and MPs who were arrested for breaking traffic regulations. While the stance earned him critics, Pratt argued it strengthened public confidence.
He also expressed concern about internal divisions that developed under Dampare, pointing to an incident on the day he retired when some officers reportedly celebrated at the Police Headquarters, handing out GH¢200 notes.
According to him, such factional behaviour is unhealthy in a security institution and undermines command structures.
Turning to the current IGP, Pratt said Yohuno’s leadership has so far been quiet and without any major defining moments. He noted that this lack of drama could also be a strength, as stability in a sensitive security agency can be valuable.
Pratt suggested that the decision by President John Dramani Mahama to extend Yohuno’s tenure might be linked to growing jockeying within the service over who should succeed him. If the extension was meant to ease tension, he said, then the President deserves credit for making a prudent call.
“I don’t know why the President extended his tenure, but if it’s to deal with the competition over who takes over, then I must commend him,” he said.
Despite the debates around leadership, Pratt maintained his respect for Dampare, saying the former IGP left a clear mark on Ghana’s policing culture.
