Accusations against Ghana’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare have sparked a diplomatic storm, following reports that he allegedly ordered the extrajudicial killing of eight Nigerians, including a pregnant woman, while they were in Ghanaian police custody.

According to sources close to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president has been fully briefed on the alleged killings and the Ghanaian IGP’s uncooperative stance towards Nigeria’s official inquiries into the matter.

The incident has ignited widespread condemnation across West Africa, raising concerns about human rights violations and diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Reports indicate that the Nigerian government has repeatedly sought details regarding the deaths of its citizens, but IGP Dampare has refused to provide any substantive information.

This lack of cooperation reportedly frustrated Nigerian authorities, prompting discussions at the highest levels of government.

It is alleged that IGP Dampare recently travelled to Nigeria to meet with President Tinubu, in what some insiders claim was an attempt to lobby the Nigerian leader to intervene on his behalf with Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, to retain his position as IGP.

However, sources say his visit was met with cold reception, with key figures in Nigeria’s security and governance circles expressing strong disapproval of his presence.

According to Okparaji Adegboyega Adejuyigbe, a representative of the West Africa Security and Justice League (WASJL), some members of Nigeria’s inner security circles have labelled IGP Dampare as a "dangerous figure" who allegedly orders the arbitrary execution of Nigerian suspects arrested in Ghana.

Meanwhile, sources within Ghana’s government suggest that President John Dramani Mahama was displeased upon learning of IGP Dampare’s visit to Nigeria to seek external support for his continued tenure as Ghana’s police chief.

Reports indicate that the decision to dismiss Dampare had already been made, and Ghana’s leadership is now considering his potential replacement.

Among the top contenders for the IGP position are:

The allegations against IGP Dampare have intensified calls for accountability, as security analysts and legal experts urge Ghanaian authorities to take swift action.

The alleged involvement of Ghana’s police in extrajudicial killings raises serious human rights concerns and threatens to undermine international confidence in Ghana’s security apparatus.

Analysts argue that failure to address these allegations could strain relations between Ghana and Nigeria, potentially impacting cooperation on regional security matters.

Human rights groups and legal advocates have urged both the Ghanaian and Nigerian governments to ensure that a full, independent investigation is conducted and that those responsible are held accountable.

As pressure mounts on President Mahama’s administration, the fate of IGP Dampare now hangs in the balance, with expectations that a leadership change within the Ghana Police Service is imminent.