Please Treat Them Well or They’ll Jubilate When You are Leaveing” – Dampare Warns Yohonu

Former Ghana Police Service boss Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has shared a painful lesson from his time in office, warning newly appointed IGP COP Christian Tetteh Yohonu about the importance of how leaders treat the people they supervise.

The former IGP made the remarks in a video published by Nhyira FM, where he encouraged COP Yohonu to lead with fairness and respect. He said leaders should remember that their conduct toward their subordinates can determine the kind of reaction they receive when they eventually leave office.

“Treat them well so that they won’t jubilate when you are leaving,” Dr. Dampare stated.

The comment has drawn attention to the issue of morale within the Ghana Police Service and the relationship between senior officers and those serving under them.

According to Dr. Dampare, his biggest pain when he left the position of IGP was not the loss of his office. Instead, it was seeing some police officers celebrate after his successor was announced.

He recalled that the appointment of COP Yohonu as the next IGP triggered celebrations in some places. What made the situation particularly difficult for him was that some of those celebrating were police officers who had worked under his command.

Dr. Dampare explained that he had spent his tenure supervising, mentoring, protecting and disciplining members of the service. He therefore found their reaction to his departure deeply painful.

He had earlier disclosed that he shed tears after the appointment of his replacement. According to him, those tears were not mainly caused by his departure from government but by the strong excitement displayed by some of his colleagues.

The former police chief’s account has raised questions about what may have been happening within the service during his tenure. The celebrations, some observers believe, could point to disagreements and dissatisfaction between sections of the rank and file and the leadership.

Dr. Dampare’s advice to his successor was therefore presented as a lesson from experience. Rather than attacking COP Yohonu, he appeared to be encouraging the new IGP to avoid creating resentment among the officers under his command.

He emphasized that discipline remains important in the police service, but leadership should also include understanding, fairness and respect.

During Dr. Dampare’s time as IGP, he became known for pushing strict professional standards and enforcing discipline within the Ghana Police Service. Supporters credited him with promoting reforms and maintaining a strong public presence.

At the same time, his approach was not universally welcomed. Some officers and critics considered his methods overly strict, suggesting that his uncompromising style sometimes created tension within the institution.

This contrast may explain the broader lesson behind his message to COP Yohonu. According to the former IGP’s comments, successful leadership cannot be measured only by how effectively rules are enforced. It must also be judged by the relationship a leader builds with the people expected to carry out those rules.

The video from Nhyira FM has sparked significant reactions, with some Ghanaians praising Dr. Dampare for speaking openly about his experience.

Some commentators have argued that when employees celebrate the departure of their superior, it should prompt an institution to examine the reasons behind such a reaction rather than dismissing it as personal hostility.

Security experts have similarly stressed the importance of morale in organizations built around strict command structures. Respectful treatment of personnel, they argue, can contribute to smoother leadership transitions and stronger institutional loyalty.

Dr. Dampare did not claim that COP Yohonu would perform poorly, nor did he accuse him of any misconduct. His remarks appeared to be a personal warning from one former police chief to his successor.

The lesson from his experience is that leadership leaves a lasting impression on those being led. A person may hold a powerful position and enforce strict rules, but the way that person treats colleagues and subordinates can ultimately shape the legacy left behind.

Dr. Dampare’s comments have therefore become more than a reflection on his own departure. They have opened a wider conversation about leadership culture in Ghana’s institutions and the need for authority to be exercised alongside fairness, respect and human dignity.