Samuel Atta Akyea
Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, has named the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea as the chairman of the seven-member ad hoc committee to investigate an audio tape in connection with an alleged plot to dismiss IGP Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare.
The Abuakwa South MP will be deputised by James Agalga, who is the MP for Builsa North, with a technical expert, Dr. Isaac Lartey Annan as the seventh member.
The committee, which consists of three (3) MPs each from the House’s Majority and Minority caucuses, has Patrick Yaw Boamah, Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Eric Opoku and Peter Toobu as other members.
The committee will investigate the veracity of the leaked tape, the conspiracy to remove the IGP, and any other issue revealed in the audio recording, as well as recommend sanctions against anyone found culpable.
It is also to make proposals for reform where necessary and other consequential orders that the committee deems relevant.
The leaked tape discloses a plan to replace the current IGP with someone more favourable to the ruling party’s agenda, with Minority members claiming that the goal was to secure police support for rigging the 2024 elections in favour of the NPP.
Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, who is also the NDC MP for Ellembelle, had asked Speaker Bagbin to form a parliamentary committee to conduct a forensic examination to confirm the validity of the recording.
He claimed that, as the country’s highest legislative body, Parliament is the ideal institution to conduct this investigation, showing its commitment to the principles of justice, transparency, and the rule of law.
Prior to the probe request, Minister of Interior Ambrose Dery denied rumours that some members of the NPP were scheming to oust IGP Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare in order to influence the 2024 elections.
“Let me make this clear that this government is not going to tamper with the 2024 elections. Our President does not want to stay one more hour beyond his tenure.
“We are making sure that we have free and fair elections. You are in this country and we have had several by-elections. By elections under this system are the most peaceful of all that we have had,” he stated.
He was responding to an audio tape purporting to be a leaked conversation of a police and some NPP members plotting to remove the IGP from office.
“Alhaji, my only issue… This current IGP will not help us if we make a mistake and send him to the elections.
“It won’t help us at all, and I don’t mind if the position isn’t given to me as long as that man is changed; because he won’t help us. He’s not going to help us at all,” sections of the recording indicated.
But the minister stated categorically that President Akufo-Addo did not intend to stay in power beyond his tenure, while dismissing theories of a scheme to subvert the will of Ghanaian voters.
“I can assure you that I serve a president who has respect for human rights. Under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, we will make sure 2024 is peaceful.
“As for those theories about – we have rich imaginations, but one thing is certain: 2024 will not be a violent election by anybody and no one will want to thwart the will of the people,” he asserted.
Mr. Dery continued, “If you vote us in you have voted us in, and if you vote us out you have voted us out. We have shown it before. The difference with which we handed over power in 2009 was so impressive.”
According to him, all by-elections held under President Akufo-Addo were peaceful, indicating the President’s dedication to democratic values as compared to previous instances.
“Go to Chereponi where people were shot in the head. We went to Atiwa, Talensi where they were throwing stones. And then you have a by-election where people are allowed to vote peacefully.
“I am saying those who did not believe in the system now believe that they can count on the police intelligence force.
“As far as I am concerned. And I am also happy that at last they have said that the EC did a good job because I can assure you that this country will not allow anybody to be killed or shot because of votes,” he posited.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House