A Security Analyst, Col Festus Aboagye (Rtd) has said that the committee formed by the Speaker of Parliament to investigate the circumstances surrounding the leaked tape that captures a plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare, appears to have broadened its scope beyond the original terms of reference.
He made this point to support his assertion that there was a big political agenda to remove the IGP from office by some officers of the Police service and some civilians as well.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Tuesday October 10, Col Aboagye said “I have been of the view that there is some empirical evidence that there is a bigger political agenda to remove the IGP from office.
“That is, more or less, evidenced in the approach that the committee has adopted which appears to widen the scope beyond its original terms of reference of first of all, authenticating the leaked audio/video material and investigating the circumstances surrounding the plot to remove the IGP from office by some persons still in uniform of the police service and one or two others who are civilians.”
He added, “I don’t hold the view that the committee has the mandate to investigate matters surrounding how the IGP is appointed, that must belong to another body or another mechanism including, for instance, the constitutional review commission which I believe was conducted in about 2011…
“This committee I think should not have the remit of investigating any aspect of the IGP’s appointment relating to the powers of the authority that appointed him.”
On Tuesday, October 10, Lawyer for the IGP, Mr Kwame Gyan accused the chair of the committee Samuel Atta Akyea of bias.
Mr Gyan has had issues with how Mr. Atta Akyea conducts affairs of the committee right from the commencement of proceedings.
When his client took his turn before the committee, Mr. Gyan protested the presence of COP Alex Mensah and Superintendent Asare and requested that they should be made to leave. However, Mr. Atta Akyea objected to the protest despite a suggestion by Ranking Member on the committee, Mr. James Agalga.
But Atta Akyea dismissed the allegation.
Speaking to the media on October 10, at the end of an in-camera hearing by the committee, the Akim Abuakwa South Member of Parliament said “It is very disappointing for anybody to say I am biased. On the contrary, the generality of Ghanaians believe that I have steered the affairs of the committee well.
“If anybody is having jitters, that I am going to manufacture evidence against the IGP, it does not accord with common sense.
“Because what we are doing here is being recorded, so, Atta Akyea with whatever dexterity will not be able to improve upon the evidence,” he stressed adding that he was leading a fact-finding committee, whose proceedings were being recorded and transcribed.”
The leaked tape captured COP Alex Mensah (rtd) together with some senior police officers and the former Northern Region Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Daniel Bugri Naabu, in a conversation ostensibly plotting to remove the IGP before the 2024 elections.
The tape had suggested that the IGP was doing the bidding of former President John Dramani Mahama, who had promised to keep him at post.
Though Chief Bugri Naabu confirmed the content of the tape, COP Alex Mensah denied the content saying portions have been “edited”. Notwithstanding, he said he has no issues whatsoever with the current IGP.