The founding president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has defended the injunction application that sought to block the removal of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare as Inspector General of Police (IGP).
According to him, the move was not driven by excessive admiration for Dr. Dampare but rather by his leadership and reforms in the Ghana Police Service.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Cudjoe admitted that, as an outsider, he may not be privy to certain internal matters but said his judgment was based on external observations as a citizen.
“In every job, there are times you leave, but the way you go matters. You will have people who love or hate you, so it is not that we overly loved Dampare but were motivated by his external works. He has done many things that are worthy of praise,” he stated.
On March 13, 2025, policy think tank IMANI Africa and security analyst Professor Kwesi Aning jointly filed an injunction at the Supreme Court to prevent President John Dramani Mahama from removing Dr. Dampare.
The suit challenges the President’s authority to terminate the appointment of key public officers without proven misconduct.
However, just hours after the application, the Presidency announced COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the new IGP following consultations with the Council of State, sparking mixed reactions.
Mr. Cudjoe clarified that the suit was not intended to undermine President Mahama’s appointing authority, emphasizing that it was filed in March 2024 and is not a new case.
“I suspect strongly that the Mahama administration or the elements around and within him know about the original suit filed last year, and we pardon them. People may say once you try to injunct, you are questioning the authority of the President, but that is not the case,” he said.
He stressed that the applicants are focused on democracy and constitutional rights and do not begrudge President Mahama for his decision.
Mr. Cudjoe remains optimistic that the Supreme Court, on May 7, 2025, will deliver a favorable ruling.
ALSO READ: