The Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North Constituency, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, is questioning whether the ad hoc committee probing a leaked audio recording about the plot to oust the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had the mandate to admit the recording or not.
He said the committee’s decision to admit the tape in evidence is a matter that needs further probe.
He was speaking on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM on Saturday, September 2.
The seven-member committee was set up by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to look into a viral audio recording after it was brought to his attention on the floor by the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
He charged the bi-partisan committee to investigate the authenticity of the leaked audio recording, the conspiracy to remove the current IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, any other matter contained in the audio recording and recommend sanctions to persons found culpable where appropriate.
It is also to make recommendations for reforms where necessary and make such other recommendations and consequential orders as the committee may deem appropriate.
These constituted the terms of reference.
After a hiccough on the first day of sitting after the first witness failed to show up, the committee resumed on Monday, August 28 with former Norther Region Chairman of the NPP Daniel Bugri Naabu recovering from his ill-health to appear before the committee.
Naamong Daan II confessed recording the conversation between him and some senior police officers including the Director General of Operations, George Alex Mensah.
“The reason for recording this tape is that they are coming to tell me to go and tell the President something that they know what they are saying, and it is either I don’t go to tell the President and then I and my party suffer for it, and if I also go to talk to the President, it is good to tell him the right thing and since I cannot keep everything they were telling me at that point, it was very good to record, and I know the President that if I go and tell him something, and it turns not to be true, next time he won’t give me respect,” he told.
This confession has been lauded by many including some committee members.
For instance, MP for Wa West Constituency Peter Lanchene Toobu has said the admission by the Chief of Naamong has made the work of the committee easier.
“Luckily enough, he listened to the audio and after that straight to the point, he authenticated the audio saying that it was his voice and everything that was said in there was actually what he himself recorded. So we were very happy that at least it had simplified the whole inquiry process for us.”
But Mr Appiah-Kubi questioned the mandate of the committee to admit the tape or not.
“Did the term of reference require the admissibility or otherwise?” he wondered.
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, who was also on the show, insisted that the tape will be “admitted anywhere, anytime” because it borders on public interest.
He said the ruling by the Supreme Court on the matter of private recording is on a “case by case” basis.
But he is convinced the tape which captures some senior political and police officers discussing a plot to purportedly remove the IGP will be admitted anywhere.