Hearing Indefinitely Suspended as Committee Reacts to Leaked Tape on IGP
The committee that was formed by the Speaker of Parliament to investigate the leaked tape that captures a plot to oust the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare has suspended sitting indefinitely.
Chair of the committee Samuel Atta Akyea told journalists after the sitting on Wednesday, October 11 that the committee is going to interrogate the evidence tabled before it and if it becomes critical, witnesses will be invited again for further clarification.
Asked whether the indefinite suspension is not going to protract matters under investigation, he answered “It is not going to protract any matter because right now we need to look at the evidence and probably start writing our report, unless there are residual matters that we later discover after reading the evidence and also listening to the audio, we are going to listen to audio tomorrow.
“All the members of the committee have been summoned to come and listen to the audio and listen to it attentively. So now, we begin to internalize what was said then we will make our decision,” he told journalists after proceedings on Wednesday.
Earlier, Mr Atta Akyea dismissed claims that he was biased.
He said the proceedings were being recorded and transcribed verbatim, therefore, he cannot manufacture any evidence against the IGP.
In his view, it did not accord with common sense to believe that he would be able to concoct evidence against the IGP.
This after Lawyer for the IGP, Mr Kwame Gyan accused him of bias. Mr Gyan has had issues with how Mr. Atta Akyea conducts the 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 who had testified against the IGP, 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.
Source: 3news