New Secret Tape On IGP’s Removal Surfaces, Committee To Conduct In-camera Hearing

A new secret tape claimed to be the comprehensive tape containing the discussion on the purported plan to oust the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, from office has been made available to the parliamentary committee investigating the authenticity of the audio.

The source of the tape has, however, not been made known.

Per the testimonies of two of the witnesses who appeared before the committee — Commissioner of Police (COP) George Alex Mensah and Superintendent George Asare — the tape being relied upon by the committee is “doctored, cut and paste”.

The two separately urged the committee to obtain the original tape from the President and the IGP.

Possible Cross-examinations
Speaking to the press after a three-hour grilling of Supt Asare in Parliament yesterday, the Chairman of the committee, Samuel Atta Akyea, said, “Now, we have the benefit of a tape on the assumption that it is authentic and the members of the committee will have to internalise that tape.

It will be transcribed and we will look at it to do proper analysis.

That will inform us about what to do,” he said.

Mr Atta Akyea said due to national security implications, the committee would conduct what he described as “a long in-camera hearing”.

“We will be guided strongly by the fact that this is not a simple exercise and not everything that should be to the general public as it will have implications for the nation.

“If your name is on the tape and your role is significant and we are doing proper fact finding, it is automatic you have to appear before the committee,” he said.

Petition
Mr Atta Akyea added that the committee, during its sitting yesterday, received a petition from senior police officers, but that the committee was yet to peruse the petition.

“But trust us as a committee that there is nothing of consequence that we will brush aside.

It is going to be a comprehensive interrogation, and we will not block those who want to aid our fact finding,” he added.

The chairman indicated that the committee had realised that some senior police officers had also taken the IGP to court in relation to their promotion.

“So, I have instructed that they should first furnish us with the writ so that we know the content of what is pending in court,” he said.

Source: Graphic