On Wednesday, the presidency announced the appointment of COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare as Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) with effect from August 1.

The 51-year-old takes over from James Oppong-Boanuh, who was appointed as police boss by President Akufo-Addo in October 2019.

A statement signed by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communication at the Presidency, directed the current IGP to “embark on terminal leave with effect from August 1, pending his retirement from the Ghana Police Service on October 7."

COP George Dampare until his appointment was the Director General in charge of Administration at the Service.

Below are some facts to know about the new sheriff in town.

• He was the overall Best Recruit at the National Police Training School upon completion of his training in 1991.

• He sat and passed the GCE Ordinary and Advanced level examinations as a private candidate in 1989 and 1992 respectively

• He became a Chartered Accountant at the age of 25.

• He emerged the overall Best Cadet for the 32nd Cadet Officers’ Course at the Ghana Police Academy (formerly, Police College), and won all awards, including Excellence in Professional Police Subjects and Excellence in Academic Subjects.

• He is the youngest Acting IGP to be appointed in the 4th Republic.

• Having been the Senior Police officer after the outgoing IGP, he is the eighth youngest to be given the position since 1957.

• COP Dampare holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Finance and Management from the King’s College, London, University of London, and two Masters of Science degrees with distinction in Accounting & Finance, from London South Bank University, UK and Business Systems Analysis & Design from City University of London, UK.

• He has served as Head (Director-General) of almost every department in the Police Service. He has been Director-General for Administration and Director-General for Welfare twice. Also, he served as Director-General for MTTD, Director-General for Research & Planning, Director-General for Operations, Director-General for ICT, Director-General for Finance, and Director-General for National Patrol Department (Police Visibility Department).

• He is credited with the idea that led to the establishment of the office of the Armourer-General which serves as the central point for accounting for arms and ammunition within the Ghana Police Service, as well as the establishment of the Service Enquiry Monitoring Unit (SEMU) with the responsibility of managing the GPS disciplinary system.

• The father of six is a Christian.