'Seniority syndrome' and strict leadership style fueled Dampare’s struggles – Prof. Agyeman-Duah

Governance expert Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah has attributed former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare’s struggles within the Ghana Police Service to deep-seated resentment over promotions, seniority, and his strict leadership style.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, 15 March 2025, Prof. Agyeman-Duah explained that Dampare’s approach to leadership disrupted long-standing traditions within the service, leading to dissatisfaction among some officers.

According to him, one of the main reasons Dampare faced opposition was his stance against the entrenched “seniority syndrome”, where officers expect promotions based on years of service rather than competence.

“In Ghana, especially in these institutions, there are two things that seem to matter most: the ‘seniority syndrome’ and how one gets promoted,” he said.

He noted that Dampare prioritised merit and performance over tenure, a shift that unsettled many officers, particularly those who had served longer but were overtaken in rank.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah revealed that promotions under Dampare sparked controversy, with some officers accusing him of favouritism.

“People complained that he was promoting his friends, but maybe these were just better-performing officers,” he stated.

He added that he personally received complaints from officers who believed they had been unfairly overlooked.

“For the past two, three years, I, who have no position, no influence, received calls from police officers who were aggrieved, thinking I had a way to influence things,” he said.

Some of these grievances, he explained, came from officers who had pursued further education on their own and expected promotions but were denied because they had not followed the required procedure of seeking official approval before enrolling in school.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah also suggested that Dampare’s no-nonsense leadership style may have contributed to his unpopularity.

“In this country, whoever is put in a position of authority and seeks to enforce the rules and the laws becomes an enemy to all,” he remarked.

He observed that this issue was not unique to the police service but was also common in the civil service, where leaders who push for strict adherence to rules often face opposition.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah noted that Dampare’s removal was not surprising, given the level of internal opposition he faced.