COP George Mensah
The Special Committee of Parliament, which investigated a leaked audio tape of some top police officers plotting to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP) from office, has cited three for professional misconduct.
The committee, chaired by MP for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, stated that COP (Rtd) Alex George Mensah, Supt. George Lysander Asare, and Supt. Emmanuel Eric Gyedi appeared to have breached Section 17 (d) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) and Regulation 82 (1) (c) of the Police Service Regulations, 2012 (C.I. 76).
It therefore wants Parliament to communicate the findings of its investigation to the President for disciplinary action against the officers.
According to the report of the committee, Section 91 of the Police Service Act 1970 (Act 350) vests disciplinary powers in the President, who can determine the appropriate action in relation to the conduct of COP Mensah, Supt Asare and Supt Gyebi.
The committee said Section 71 (d) of Act 350 states that “it shall be misconduct for a police officer to engage in any activity outside his official duties which is likely to involve him in political controversy or to lead to his taking improper advantage of his position in the Police Service.”
“Regulation 82(1) (c) of the Police Service Regulations, 2012 (C.I 76) also states that ‘It is a major offence for an officer to engage in an activity outside official duties which is likely to involve the officer in political controversy or lead to the officer taking improper advantage of that officers’ position in the service,” the report said.
The committee again recommended that the National Elections Security Task Force ought to put in place appropriate measures to prevent the perception of manipulation of election security to influence electoral outcomes.
It believes this will ensure peace and security before, during and after elections.
“This is important to assure citizens of the country exercise their franchise in a free, fair, and transparent manner to consolidate the democratic gains made under the Fourth Republic,” the report said.
According to the report, the President, in exercising his authority to appoint the IGP under Article 202(1) of the Constitution, should ensure that the nomination and appointment process includes key actors and stakeholders in the security and intelligence sectors and is substantively consultative.
“The nomination and appointment process should also take into account the nominee’s demonstrable political neutrality, proven high sense of patriotism and professional competence combined with impeccable professional experience,” the committee suggested.
“Therefore, in order to safeguard the sanctity and integrity of the nomination and appointment process for an IGP, the President should ensure that the process is devoid of politicisation by “power brokers”, political cronies, and influence peddlers in order to engender the necessary public trust in the IGP,” the report indicated.
A Daily Guide Report