Security Analyst, Col. Festus Aboagye (Rtd.), has expressed worry over the seeming extensive politicization of Ghana’s security agencies, especially the Ghana Police Service.
According to the Security Analyst, although the Parliamentary Committee probing the alleged plot to oust the IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has its terms of reference spelt out, the extent of politicization in the Ghana Police Service as evidenced during the hearings should not be swept under the carpet.
“We need to look beyond the exchanges of the witness and look at what is really going on which is an extensive politization of our security agencies i.e., Ghana Police Service,” he said in an interview on TV3’s Ghana Tonight on Monday, September 4, 2023.
“Also, the second witness, COP Alex Mensah, was not ashamed owning up that he is a sympathizer of the NPP. Which means until you carry a symbol of a particular party, you cannot receive a promotion or be an IGP. The degree of politicization is worrisome. So now you will need to put a label on your forehead that you are NDC or NPP Police before you will be accepted?” the Security Analyst queried.
He stressed that it is not prudent to use political reasons to appoint the IGP, adding that this is what is motivating police officers to help manipulate elections in favour of their parties.
“It is all because the system makes use of people like COP Alex Mensah and Supt. George Asare, that is why people have the courage and nerve to actually conspire to remove the IGP,” Col. (Rtd) Aboagye noted.
He described the attitude of COP George Alex Mensah and Supt. George Asare, as unprofessional.
Meanwhile, the Ad hoc Parliamentary Committee has indicated that it has received another recording, quite longer than what it had originally. Members of the committee intend to listen to the audio and proceed accordingly.