James Agbey, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) operative, has asserted that his party will prevail in the 2024 General Elections, regardless of whether IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare continues to serve in that capacity.
He said it is absurd that in the leaked audio, certain individuals—one of whom is thought to be a senior police official—claim that the current police administration is serving the NDC’s interests calling for the removal of the IGP before the 2024 elections.
However, he emphasized that, in contrast to that claim, the police’s performance under George Dampare has been more than respectable.
James Agbey added that the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP), which looks to be determined to do whatever it takes to win the 2024 general elections, should be warned that the NDC will not allow the party have its way.
He further stated that he personally warned the police to remain impartial with its professional skills and which he claimed it did and ensured a peaceful by-election in Assin North Constituency.
“It is therefore surprising to listen to such graphic audio recording of NPP insiders within the administration, plotting to remove Dampare and install a puppet Inspector General of Police that will help the NPP to rig election 2024.
“Let it be on record that whether Dr Akuffo Dampare remains the IGP or not, the NDC is surely taking over the reins of the country. Even if the NPP brings Bryan Acheampong or Captain Koda as Inspector General of Police, they will still be booted out of office in 2024.”
James Agbey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) was further reprimanded by James Agbey not to try to come up with any shady plans to maintain power in 2024. He further stated that it is true that many Ghanaians would want the NDC to return to power and that NDC will do all it takes to fulfill its constituents’ wish.
“For emphasis, majority of Ghanaians are insisting on the return of the NDC to government in 2024, and there’s nothing that is going to stop the momentum that’s building in that regard. The NPP dare not connive with rogue elements in the police administration to disrupt the 2024 polls,” he averred.
IGP Cannot Rig Elections For NPP Or NDC
However, Sulemana Braimah, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), dismissed claims made by some political parties that a new Inspector-General of Police (IGP) may support this party or the other in winning elections.
He claimed that no IGP could aid a specific party in winning elections in Ghana.
Mr. Braimah addressed the leaked audio recording that allegedly depicts some senior Ghana Police Service and New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials conspiring to oust the incumbent IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, over his alleged prejudice against the ruling party.
According to the MFWA Executive Director, the majority of Presidential candidates have won elections since the turn of the century, when an IGP they did not appoint was in office.
He cited how former President John Agyekum Kufuor won in the tenure of an IGP appointed by late President Jerry John Rawlings, how late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills won in the tenure of an IGP appointed by Kufuor and how in 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo won in the tenure of an IGP, appointed that same year by John Dramani Mahama.
“So, there is no basis to talk about an IGP helping a particular party to win an election. For me, an IGP doesn’t conduct elections, an IGP is not a Polling Station Officer, an IGP doesn’t deploy police officers, Presiding Officers or Collation Officers. So, political parties must focus on doing the right thing and leave partisanship that we are witnessing in this to pass.”
Sulemana Braimah
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