Barber shop, a credible place to ascertain not only veracity but authenticity of public view of any critical national issue. It was time for me to fly back to the USA after attending one of the most successful presidential inaugurations in Africa. The only one comparable was that of President Nelson Mandela for understandable reasons. About a half of African countries heads of government were in attendance, 21 heads of states to be precise. It’s huge, significant and a diplomatic statement- Ghana has assumed the position of a regional powerhouse, if not superpower. To be sure, diplomatic power is not determined by geographical landmass or population but by influence, respect and acceptability.
President John Mahama of Ghana and the people of Ghana made the African continental sub region proud with a flawless election; free, fair and credible. As a scholar and researcher, this is the first time an opposition party in Ghana won such a landslide victory with 183 seats in the parliament against mere 83 by the then ruling party of NPP with former President Nana Akufo Addo at the helm. Impressively of note and worthy of emulation and commendation was the early concession of the former vice president Dr Bawumia who called President Mahama to congratulate and concede. As an American citizen of African extraction, I was proud to see such a display of political maturity and sagacity by all the protagonists.
I was therefore taken back when the discussion taking place at the barber shop, I went to have a haircut on Sunday January 12th, 2025, was that of despair, disappointment, anger and betrayal directed at President Mahama. My initial reaction was this man just got sworn in, he couldn’t have done anything wrong. As my eavesdropping was not getting me enough information with clarity and being very interested, I openly asked what was the problem with your amiable new president?
The lady at the other end, ostensibly more educated judging by her language skill, quipped: “have you not seen that wrongfully worded letter from him? It has been generating unfavorable reactions from the public.” What letter I asked again? Boldly, she came closer, opened her phone and let me read the letter. In addition, she showed me a video clip of President Mahama’s press conference which gave birth to the letter ab initio. I watched and understood context.
THE ISSUES:
Notable in their argument which carries moral weight was that asking the Instructor General of Police, Mr. Dampare on whose watch citizens were killed in 2020 and 2024 elections respectively to superintend an investigation will not produce credible report. It will not be transparent. What if his men did the killing? They will be protected or exonerated. This man had four years since 2020 to investigate this killing, he didn’t. This same IGP arrested innocent citizens who were exercising their democratic right of protest and detained them for days, until public outcry compelled him to release them. The same Dampare insulted the NDC party chairman back in 2020 for demanding this same investigation then.
My TAKE:
- While conceding that each country has her own internal security peculiarities and uniqueness vis-a-vis the way they go about it, but best international practice is to ask the Inspector General of police to step aside for another person next in line to carry out the investigation. Infact, in most climes, Mr. Dampare himself would have resigned on his own volition.
- He was asked to give a report by Mr. President in the press conference, not to constitute an investigative panel as the wrongfully worded letter seemed to suggest.
- It’s even important to underscore the fact that the first killings took place in 2020, he had 4 years to investigate but deliberately failed or refused to do so. Complicity? It cannot be ruled out. In politics and in real life, only a thin line separates reality from perception.
- Ghanaians are not happy from all I gathered. They felt betrayed by their newly elected president.
- The gentleman beside me, jumped in. How can the families of those killed have confidence in the same man who watched and did nothing when their children were killed. What touched me most was when he said with profound sadness, “lf those children killed were the children of Mahama, would he nonchalantly as that letter seemed to convey ask Dampare to remain on seat and worst still to handle the investigation?” I could reply but sought refuge in silence.
- I understood his emotional anguish, pain and anger. President Mahama must make bold to ask Dampare to step down immediately. No delay. He must not give an erroneous impression of a sudden presidential amnesia. He was one of those ordinary citizens just a couple of weeks ago. Being president now must not immune him from the pains his fellow citizens feel.
- President John Mahama must not squander this huge goodwill given to him by the citizens of this great 5-star country. On further investigation, majority of the rank and file of the police force are furiously demanding the IGP resignation. They don’t like him. He has failed them. He has lost their trust and confidence, an important asset, if not a sine qua non in leadership, especially that of the internal security apparatus of a country.
- At the airport on my departure day, I decided to engage one of the police officers I met in a discussion. He told me that what was most silently remarkable and of big significance to him was the sense of “second liberation and independence” the people of Ghana felt with the departure of Akufor Ado and coming in of Mahama. Unfortunately, he said, the men and women of the police force are denied that sense of liberty with Dampare remaining as the IGP. “We are all afraid. No one is free to talk his mind. He plays both ends against the middle, pitching colleagues against one another. You are victimized if you hold views against him. Snitching is being encouraged.” He concluded by saying, “My commander in chief has a responsibility and obligation to set us free too by removing our IGP.” I felt his expectation and the inherent message.
- As if that was not enough, last Saturday January 11th, a police station was burnt down in the Ashanti region. Ghanaians are angry at this IGP. Given these circumstances, there is no way any reasonable person, friend or foe will not question the integrity of any report generated by Dampare.
THE MAN PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA
In my widely circulated and read article- “JOHN MAHAMA and GHANIANS IN A RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY” published December 4th, 2024, I described president Mahama as a man whose life is defined and punctuated with integrity, veracity, gentility, says what he means and means what he says. A man other African leaders and world leaders have come to respect and accord high admiration and affinity. I am almost sure what transpired was a classic case of miscommunication. He never asked such a letter to be written. We must all be gracious to give the executive secretary- the author of the letter the benefit of doubt. What is left now is for President Mahama to ask the IGP to step down and appoint another person. Like justice, a delay is tantamount to a denial. Those bereaved families need accountability, and it must not be delayed.
- With a rather confused sense of humor that police officer quipped, please ensure our president gets this message. This is an honest, independent and unbiased assessment of the mood of the people both at the police department and the general public now. He will hear, I told him. Mr. President, I have conveyed his message….
Agbai Eke Agbai, PhD
Executive Vice President,
Center for Policy & Foreign Engagement & BOT member President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL)
Writes from USA.
