A security analyst, Dr Adams Bonaa, has expressed the need for parliamentary sittings of the committee that has been formed by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to investigate the leaked tape on the alleged plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampre, to be televised.
According to him, it is necessary this is undertaken. That notwithstanding, he revealed that the information churned out must be measured.
“The sitting might go longer than one week because so many names of people have been mentioned. Televise the interrogation but the amount of information should be limited. It will be injurious and detrimental to our peace and security if every information goes out there.”
Dr Adam Bonaa
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, directed the establishment of a seven-member special committee to investigate a leaked tape containing alleged plans by the government to remove the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, from office in an attempt to manipulate the upcoming 2024 General Elections.
The decision to form the committee comes in response to a demand by the minority caucus of Parliament, who called for a thorough probe to determine the authenticity and credibility of the leaked tape.
The committee will consist of three Members of Parliament from each side of the house, along with the assistance of a technical expert to support their work.
The names of the three members from both the Majority and Minority caucuses are expected to be disclosed within one week, as directed by the Speaker.
Parliament’s right to investigate leaked audio
Prior to this, a Security Analyst, Colonel Festus Aboagye, revealed that Parliament has the right and mandate to investigate the revelations made in a supposed secret tape about Ghana’s police chief. With this, he urged Parliament to urgently investigate the matter.
Col. Aboagye indicated that a swift resolution to the leaked tape will help build confidence in the country ahead of the 2024 polls.
“The conspiracy at the heart of the audio tape is against the IGP who is the head of the police administration. So even per the police procedure of they investigating themselves and we say we don’t agree with a thing or two, then it will not be very appropriate for the police to be the only institution that probes this matter.”
Colonel Festus Aboagye
The controversial audio is said to have leaked from a conversation between a top police officer and persons suspected to be affiliated with the ruling New Patriotic Party.
The conversation on the recording suggests solicitations by an unnamed influence-peddling policeman seeking that the current Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare be ousted from office so someone more sympathetic to the cause of the ruling party replaces him.
The unidentified individuals involved in the recorded conversation expressed frustration over the IGP’s alleged reluctance to align the police force’s activities with the interests of the ruling party. They raised concerns about his leadership style and rumoured association with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Following the leaked audio, the Minority in Parliament has called for a thorough investigation of the leaked tape.
Ranking Member on the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga stated that such comments pass for treason, hence the need for urgent action to be taken by the government to deal with the concern. He explained that such conducts can compromise the security of the country because if the people exercise their sovereign will in 2024, and anybody attempts to stand in the way of the people, clearly the minority is not going to allow that to happen.
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