Accra-Ghana, Sept. 01, GNA – A Commissioner of Police, George Alex Mensah, has alleged that Dr George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), is mismanaging the Police Service.
The Commissioner of Police (COP) Mensah, also a former Director General in charge of Technical, Ghana Police Service made the allegation on Thursday when he appeared before the seven-member bi-partisan Committee probing into the secret recording of an alleged plot to remove Dr Dampare, IGP from office ahead of the 2024 general elections.
COP Mensah alleged that the IGP’s leadership had led to a decline in morale among many Police officers.
“Dampare is not managing the Police Service well and the majority of Police officers are not happy. You can call the Police officers underground and they will tell you,” he said.
On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, a leaked audio recording, allegedly involving a Police Commissioner and a politician discussing a plot to remove IGP Dampare from the office circulated.
Consequently, the Minority Caucus in Parliament called for a probe into the leaked tape.
Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament therefore on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, constituted a seven-member bi-partisan Committee to probe into the secret recording of an alleged plot to remove Dr Dampare, IGP from office ahead of the 2024 general election.
The Committee, which has up to September 10, 2023, to report back to the House is made up of three members each from the Majority and Minority sides of Parliament, and a technical person.
The committee is chaired by Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South with Mr James Agalga, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Builsa North as the Vice-Chairman.
It has Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, NPP MP for Okaikwei Central; Madam Ophelia Mensah, NPP MP for Mfantseman; Mr Eric Opoku, NDC MP for Asunafo South and Mr Peter Lanchene Tuobu, NDC MP for Wa West as members of the Committee.
While Dr Isaac Lartey Annang, a lawyer and a human rights activist, is a technical person appointed by Mr Bagbin.
Meanwhile, COP Mensah during the public hearing conceded to being a politician and working in the interest of a political party, which he declined to name.
This makes COP Mensah corroborate some alleged comments on the leaked tape where he told Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, the first witness that the IGP must be removed to ensure that the NPP wins the 2024 elections.
Mr Naabu also the Paramount Chief of Namong in the North East Region in the Mamprugu Kingdom on Monday during his public hearing cited three Police officers as engaging in the plot conversation.
Three Police officers, Commissioner of Police, George Alex Mensah, Superintendent George L. Asare, and Superintendent Emmanuel Eric Gyebi were cited by Mr Naabu, a former Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP as the trio he engaged in the conversation with at his office in Osu on Monday when he appeared before the Committee.
