Right after the 7th December 2024 elections in Ghana, the UN Special Envoy Mr. Leonardo Santos Simao commended the IGP, waxing lyrically about his excellent work having overseen peaceful elections and going ahead to state that the rest of Africa needed to come and learn from Dr Dampare.

As if on cue, CSOs, Church leaders, Lawyers, Political activists and many ordinary people showered praises on the IGP for a good job done.

Ghana had successfully conducted an election and Security Services had not become the news; no guns fired, no tear gas, no pepper spray, no water cannon, no whips, nothing.

In this atmosphere of praise, one rebel voice spits out fire and says the IGP is the worst in the history of Ghana; and that if he stays in office after 7th January 2025 “Some Police officers will mobilize and drive him out of office, mark my words” Dr Agordzo boldly says on TV3.

What makes rebel voices such as Kwame Nkrumah and Jesus Christ resonate so powerfully is the credibility that they attained in society through disciplined actions and unquestioned integrity.

A rebel with zero discipline and zero integrity is doomed to fail because that person will have zero credibility.

 ACP (Rtd) Dr Benjamin Agordzo, in his latest attempt at being a rebel embodies the adage “Once a rebel, always a rebel”; the man never gives up on being a rebel.

But for a man whose career has been marred by a series of scandals and behaviours that raise serious concerns about his integrity, morality, and suitability as a public figure; this endeavour is doomed to fail, like all previous rebellious attempts.  

Indiscipline and a Penchant for Violence  

Dr Agordzo’s record is far from exemplary. His downward spiral began in the Upper East Region, where he was Dismissed from the Police Service for assaulting his Regional Commander (RC).

In 2007, Dr Agordzo, then a Superintendent of Police, in a fit of rage and complete lack of discipline, brutally assaulted his Regional Commander.

The attack was so severe that he was charged with 6 counts of misconduct.

He was tried lawfully, found guilty and was expelled from the Police service. He petitioned the Police Council and in 2009, while studying in Italy, the Mills-Robertson-led administration reduced his sentence from Dismissal to a Demotion in rank to a Deputy.

This act of clemency for such a senior officer expected to conduct himself as a gentleman set a dangerous precedent for tolerating indiscipline which continues to reverberate to this day.

Corruption and Abuse of Office 

Fast-forward to his time as Director of Operations between 2015 and 2017, Dr Agordzo’s actions again raised eyebrows. Now C/Supt Magnus Sam, having performed meritoriously was nominated for a training program abroad.

Dr Agordzo, being Director of Operations was responsible for filing the papers for Officer Sam.

In a brazen act of corruption and complete abuse of his office, Agordzo clandestinely changed the participating officer from Sam to now DSP Angelina Yitankey, whom many suspected was in an unethically close relationship with Agordzo.

It was not until much later, when Officer Sam was spotted in Ghana, while the program was going on, and questioned that the Administration noticed what Dr Agordzo had done. He was severely reprimanded and did not last long in the role afterwards.

Even though the Police Administration was being run by people who had a soft spot for him, they viewed his actions as unnecessarily corrupt and unacceptable since what he had done not only undermined institutional fairness but also eroded trust in the leadership of the police service.  

Dr Agordzo was subsequently moved to Director of Transformation under the direct supervision of IGP David Apeatu. Dr Agordzo’s conduct further revealed his lack of integrity.

The unit was relatively new and had only 4 cars to run its operations. Dr Agordzo ordered all four official vehicles assigned to his office to be parked at his residence, depriving his team of necessary resources.

Shockingly, these vehicles were reportedly used by his wife, children, and friends for personal errands, while his subordinates were left to endure public transportation to carry out their duties.  

Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel  

Agordzo’s actions paint a picture of a man who thrives on rebellion and self-interest.

His involvement in the infamous MacPalm treason trial, where he allegedly conspired with others to overthrow the President of the Republic, underscores his disregard for authority, law and order.

Although he got off on a technicality, the stain of such an association lingers, further undermining his credibility.  

The adage "once a rebel, always a rebel" seems particularly fitting for Agordzo.

His pattern of insubordination and ethical lapses makes him ill-suited to criticize the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, a man with an unblemished record whose leadership has been widely commended.  

 Dr Agordzo’s Decline as an Academic  

Agordzo’s lack of credibility extends beyond his law enforcement career into his current role as a lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

According to students, his lectures often devolve into personal grievances against Dr. Dampare, rather than focusing on providing valuable insights or examples.

Such unprofessional behaviour has reportedly led students to question his mental stability, with one student openly heckling him about his obsession with the IGP.  

For an institution like UPSA, which prides itself on academic excellence, employing someone with such a questionable track record is an indictment of its standards.

Students deserve mentors who inspire integrity, professionalism, and objectivity—not lecturers with personal vendettas.  

 Conclusion  

ACP (Rtd) Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo’s career and public persona are riddled with examples of rebellion, abuse of power, and questionable morals.

From his early misconduct as a police officer to his more recent antics as an academic, his actions have consistently shown a lack of integrity and credibility.  

In any serious country, figures like Agordzo would not be granted platforms to influence public discourse or mentor future generations. His attempts to undermine others, especially respected figures like Dr Dampare, should be seen for what they are: the bitter cries of a man whose career has been defined by controversy and failure.

Agordzo’s story is a cautionary tale of how unchecked ambition and a lack of moral grounding can tarnish a career and reputation beyond repair.

Dr F O Asante (aka Kwame Asante)

University of Charleston

USA