Dampare vs British High Commissioner – Social media users take side

Social media users have gone agog over the friction between the Ghana Police Service and the British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson.

Ms Thompson on May 17, expressed her interest in the case of a #FixTheCountry Convener, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, following his second arrest.

In a tweet, she wrote, ”Oliver Barker Vormawor, the convener of #FixTheCountry Movement, arrested again, I understand, for a motoring offense on his way to court. I’ll be interested to see where this goes.”

Oliver Barker Vormawor, convener of #FixTheCountry movement, arrested again, I understand for a motoring offence on his way to court. I’ll be interested to see where this goes… https://t.co/iK5hZDZUln

— Harriet Thompson (@HCThompson001) May 17, 2022

But in a sharp rebuttal, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare asked her to mind her own business.

He stressed that “the tweet is a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 which enjoins diplomatic missions not to interfere in the internal affairs of their host country.”

Barker-Vormawor’s arrest: Mind your business – Dampare tells British High Commissioner

Subsequently, the Diplomat said she did not expect any reaction from the IGP at all.

According to her, she meant no malice with her tweet.

‘My tweet wasn’t going to get Ghanaians on the streets’ – British High Commissioner fires back at Dampare

“Ghana is a peace-loving nation where people do have the right to express themselves, where they do have the right to come and protest things that matter to them.

“A tweet like that is not going to be the thing that will get people onto the streets, in my view. If I had thought that there was the remotest chance of that, I wouldn’t be tweeting things like that. That is clearly not my intention,” she said on Accra-based GH One.

Netizens have not gone silent since.

As some tweeps sided with IGP Dampare, others criticised him, adding that he was “rude”.

When you become a high commissioner in the UK, you can then talk about their international affair…At the said she wasn't expecting any response, funny. You think we are still slaves to them eerr

— Koo Sammy (@SaamyTuga) June 1, 2022

Literally, after listening to the British high commissioner’s interview with Natalie on GhOne TV, I can say IGP Dampare has regretted signing that nuisance, rude,arrogant and intolerant letter. It’s shameful.

— KOJO DYNAMIC 𓃵 (@AnnanPerry) May 31, 2022

It's the well-constructed sentences in the Dampare letter for me. Proper PhD policeman

— Yaw abban. (@YAbbanx) May 31, 2022

We need to recover our right to dissent in Ghana.

Dampare’s long response to the British High Commissioner, should get you concerned if you care about Freedom of speech and expression.

Free speech has been one of the chief casualties of worsening situations in this country.

— Marreka (@Ebenezer_Peegah) May 31, 2022

Over 98% of Ghana police officers don’t know the constitution and the protocols in this country. How can IGP Dampare can write such a rude letter to the British high commissioner?

— With All Due Respect (@cdzas) May 31, 2022

Dampare wants to tell the British high commissioner that Ghana is a sovereign country hence he shouldn't meddle in out affairs, that may be right but he should be careful cus even Nana Addo can't tell them that. What will he do if they decide to take their loans 😂

— Professor Kweku Bentil (@fanti_boy) May 31, 2022

So Dampare actually wrote a 4-pager in response to a two-sentence tweet! Interesting country #JoySMS

— Kwame Asiemoah (@semaokpekpe) June 1, 2022

#JoySms the letter or supposed letter from the #IGP was childish and a display of a man full of sentiments. In any case, I thought the services has/had a PR wing? It was a harmless tweet not deserving the attention given it now. Thanks to the supposed Mr. Dampare!

— Jobs for the Youth (@DZIDULA_JNR) June 1, 2022

I’m so disappointed in @akuffo_dampare This woman is nothing like Jon Benjamin! If it’s were Jon would you have sent him such a letter?

Jon Benjamin would probably respond. @GhPoliceService

— B. by Sekumba (@Bridget_Otoo) May 31, 2022

Many are defending the slay King Dampare and insulting people without knowing what the British high commissioner tweeted. Ah 😂

— KOJO DYNAMIC 𓃵 (@AnnanPerry) June 1, 2022

Dampare won all the support of Ghanaians, but he has now become a sleeping Beauty. He should respond to the many issues rather than this.

— Wongye96 (@DykesWongye) June 1, 2022

Source: myJoy