The former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Daniel Bugri Naabu, claims that Dr. George Akuffo Dampare was not there for the covert recording, according to the Inspector General of Police.
He declared: “The IGP said I did not participate in a secret recording plot with the former NPP Northern Regional Chairman.”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) refuted claims that he participated in a plot to covertly record talks of the three implicated police officers during his Tuesday testimony before the bipartisan seven-member Committee of Parliament that is now looking into a purported leaked recording from Dr. Dampare.
Following their voices on the tape are witnesses: Mr George Alex Mensah, Commissioner of Police (COP); Mr. George L. Asare, Superintendent of Police; Mr. Emmanuel Eric Gyebi, Superintendent of Police; and Mr Bugri Naabu, also a Paramount Chief of Namong in the North East Region in the Mamprugu Kingdom.
The integrity of an allegedly leaked audio plotting Mr. Dampare’s removal is being looked into by a seven-member, bipartisan committee of Parliament, which is chaired by Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Abuakwa South and Mr. James Agalga of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Builsa North.
A leaked audio tape dated Tuesday, July 11, 2023, purportedly included a Police Commissioner and a politician outlining a scheme to unseat IGP Dampare.
As a result, the Minority Caucus in Parliament demanded an investigation into the recording that was released.
Therefore, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, appointed the seven-member bipartisan Committee to investigate and authenticate the audio of an alleged plot to depose Dr. Dampare, IGP. The plot allegedly involved the 2024 general election.
Due to the ongoing inquiry, the Committee was consequently given the mandate to report back to the House by September 10, 2023, however, this was unsuccessful.
Three members from the Majority and Minority sides of the Parliament, as well as a technical specialist, make up the Committee.
Members of the Committee include Mr. Peter Lanchene Tuobu, NDC MP for Wa West, Mr Eric Opoku, NDC MP for Asunafo South, Madam Ophelia Mensah, NPP MP for Mfantseman, and Mr. Patrick Yaw Boamah, NPP MP for Okaikwei Central.
While Mr. Bagbin chose Dr. Isaac Lartey Annang, a human rights advocate and lawyer, as a technical person.
Dr. Dampare emphasised his dedication to preserving the law and the honour of the Ghana Police Service, and he emphasised his desire to fully cooperate with the current inquiry, promising to offer any required information or aid to unearth the truth.
The IGP explained to the Committee that the three police officers’ outrageous accusations against him had caused him and his family great suffering.
When COP Mensah first came, he informed the committee that the IGP had the entire unedited tape and that they had planned the audio recording with Mr. Bugri Naabu.
Mr. Bugri Naabu had a significant role in the recording that was released.
