On July 12, 2023, a Deputy Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jennifer Queen, said on Accra-based Okay FM’s morning show that the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police is two years.
She was contributing to a discussion about a leaked audio conversation purportedly between top officials of the Ghana Police Service and a senior member of the NPP. The individuals were heard in the audio plotting to remove the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, from office.
Fact-Check Ghana has verified the claim and presents the explanation below.
Claim: “You know that the tenure of the IGP is two years: good. Even Dampare’s two years is (sic) about to end. So, it is [at] the discretion of the appointing authority, or the president, to determine whether he will continue in his position or be relieved of his post.”
Verdict: False
Explanation: Two laws cover the appointment of the IGP—the Police Act and Article 202(1).
Both the Police Act, Act 350, 1970, and Article 202(1) of the 1992 Constitution which establishes the Police force state that “the Inspector-General shall be appointed by the President acting in consultation with the Council of State.”
Neither the Constitution nor the Police Act specifies the number of years an IGP can occupy the position until they retire.
In addition, an analysis of the tenure of IGPs in the last 22 years shows that three out of the 10 appointed between 2001 and 2023 spent more than two years in office.
| The last 10 IGPs (2001- 2023) | Tenure | Period |
| Ernest Owusu-Poku | January 2001 to July 2001 | 7 months |
| Nana Owusu-Nsiah | July 2001 to March 2005 | 3 years and 9 months |
| Patrick Kwateng Acheampong | March 2005 to January 2009 | 3 years and 11 months |
| Elizabeth Mills-Robertson (acting) | January – May 2009 | 5 months |
| Paul Tawiah Quaye | May 2009 to February 2013 | 3 years and 10 months |
| Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan | February 2013 to November 2015 | 2 years and 10 months |
| John Kudalor | November 2015 to January 2017 | 1 year and 3 months |
| David Asante-Apeatu | January 2017 to July 2019 | 2 years and 7 months |
| James Oppong-Boanuh | October 2019 – August 2021 | 1 year and 11 months |
| George Akuffo Dampare effective | August 2021 to Present | – |
From the above, it is clear that there is no specific period an IGP stays in the position until their retirement. Therefore, the claim by the NPP’s Jennifer Queen is false.
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