IGP Is Likely To Appear Before Parliamentary Probe Committee– Agalga

The parliamentary ad-hoc committee probing the leaked audio recording allegedly plotting the removal of the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare is likely to invite the later for hearing.

Vice chairman of the committee, James Agalga hinted of the likely invitation because the IGP has been cited by one of the key witnesses, COP George Alex Mensah.

Speaking on TV3‘s The Keypoints on Saturday, September 2, 2023 Mr Agalga said “If we don’t do that we may be unfair to him” ( referring to the invitation of the IGP by the committee).

The discussion focused on the two-time appearance of outgoing Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service George Alex Mensah, who accused the IGP of being behind the recording of the private conversation between him, Bugri Naabu and others.

COP Mensah made the allegation against his boss, Dr Dampare when he before the committee on Friday September 1, 2023.

“My intel suggests that what was used to tape the conversation was done by the current IGP”

….“He sent some people to do it after which he went for it. So, the tape from my intel is with the IGP, he caused it to be leaked.

“So, if this committee wants the tape, the right person to call before this committee is the Inspector General of Police”,COP Mensah told the committee.

Mr Agalga, who is Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, described the claim made by the senior police officer as “very serious”.

The Builsa North Member of Parliament (MP) also mentioned that all those mentioned will be given the opportunity but was quick to state, that “the committee has not sat down to say that we will be calling the IGP”.

“We haven’t taken a decision to invite the IGP yet. We may when we sit.”

Mr Agalga who is former deputy minister for the Interior emphasised that, it will fly in the face of natural justice if Dr Akuffo Dampare is not invited by the committee.

Speaking to newsmen after Friday’s sitting, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Samuel Atta Akyea also expressed similar sentiments about the possible of throwing an invitation to the police chief to respond to the claims made against him.

“It is a likelihood and it’s all got to do with how the evidence is evolving, so it is a likelihood because the facts we should place before plenary should not be shoddy, it’s not one-sided so it is a likelihood,” he indicated when asked by journalist.

“If the presence of the individual will give relevance to the fact-finding exercise, we will do that”, Mr Atta Akyea stated.