President John Mahama met with outgoing heads of various security agencies on Monday, March 17, following the end of their tenure in office.

However, the outgoing Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, was noticeably absent when the President met with outgoing security heads.

The reason for his absence remains unclear.

The meeting was attended by the former head of the Ghana Prisons Service, Isaac Kofi Egyir, Julius A. Kuunuor of the Fire Service, and Kwame Asuah Takyi of the Immigration Service, who were recently relieved of their duties.

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This comes after President Mahama appointed DDGP 3 Patience Baffoe-Bonnie as Director-General of Prisons, DCFO Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong as Chief Fire Officer, and DCI Samuel Basentale Amadu as Comptroller-General of Immigration.

In a post on Facebook on Monday, March 17, President Mahama expressed his sincere appreciation to the outgoing officers.

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He also thanked them for their dedicated service to Ghana during their time in office.

Security experts have strongly condemned the government’s decision to appoint a new IGP while a Supreme Court ruling on the removal of the former IGP is pending.

Some comments suggest that President John Mahama’s decision to relieve Dr Dampare of his duties and replace him with COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno was unacceptable, describing it as contemptuous of the highest court of the land.

IMANI Ghana and security expert Prof Kwesi Aning filed a suit at the Supreme Court that sought to restrain the President from removing the IGP and other heads of security agencies until an ongoing case relating to the matter is decided in May 2025.

The plaintiffs argued that the security heads in question would be unfairly treated if they were removed before the Supreme Court delivers its ruling.