A parliamentary committee that investigated a leaked tape in which three senior officers were plotting his removal has cleared Dr. George Akuffo Dampare of any misconduct.
The committee, chaired by former Attorney General Samuel Atta Akyea, found that the allegations made against the IGP by the officers were baseless and that they conspired to tarnish his reputation and replace him with one of them.
The committee recommended that the three officers, COP Alex Mensah, Supt. George Lysander Asare and Supt. Authorities should further investigate and possibly prosecute Eric Emmanuel Gyebi for perjury and professional misconduct.
The committee suggested amending the constitution and the police service act to secure the independence and tenure of the IGP and to prevent political interference and manipulation in the appointment process.
The committee’s report, which was submitted to the Speaker of Parliament on Tuesday, was based on the evidence gathered from the four key witnesses who testified before the committee, namely the IGP, the three officers, and Chief Bugri Naabu, a prominent politician who was allegedly involved in the scheme.
The Leaked Tape
In December 2023, an audio tape went viral on social media, in which the three officers discussed how to remove the IGP, who had been appointed in August 2023 by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The officers accused the IGP of being a sympathizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and claimed that he was sabotaging the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) by transferring loyal officers and exposing corruption scandals.
The officers also alleged that the IGP engaged in illegal mining, money laundering, and human trafficking and that they had evidence to prove their claims.
The tape revealed that the officers had approached Chief Bugri Naabu, a former regional chairman of the NPP, to lobby influential people in the government and the party to support their cause.
The officers suggested appointing COP Alex Mensah, who was the director-general of police operations, as the new IGP and claimed that they had the backing of some senior ministers and party officials.
The Committee’s Findings
The committee found that the allegations made by the officers against the IGP were false and malicious and that they had no evidence to support them.
They also found that the officers had violated the police service act and regulations, which prohibit serving officers from engaging in activities that may lead to political controversy or conflict of interest.
In addition, the committee said that the officers had publicly declared their affiliation and sympathy with the NPP and that they had conspired to undermine the authority and credibility of the IGP.
They also noted that the officers had committed perjury by lying under oath during their testimony and that they had contradicted themselves and each other on several occasions.
The committee said that the officers’ actions had brought the police service into disrepute and eroded public confidence and trust in the institution.
The IGP’s Reaction
The IGP, who had maintained his innocence and professionalism throughout the ordeal, welcomed the committee’s report and thanked the Speaker of Parliament and the members of the committee for their work.
He stated that the false accusations and attempts to tarnish his image did not deter him and that he would continue to discharge his duties with integrity and dedication.
He also appealed to the political parties and their supporters to refrain from interfering in the affairs of the police service and to respect its independence and impartiality.
The IGP expressed his gratitude to the president, the vice president, the ministers, the members of parliament, the chiefs, the religious leaders, the civil society organizations, the media, and the general public for their support and encouragement during the difficult period.
In conclusion, said that he was optimistic about the future of the police service and the nation and that he believed that Ghana would overcome its challenges and achieve its aspirations.
Source: Ghana Web
