Source: Lawrencia Sarfowaa Oworae

The Director General of Operations for the Ghana Police Service, COP George Alex Mensah has said he is not pleased with the work of the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo-Dampare and he would not deny that anywhere.

He said this after a committee tasked to investigate an alleged plot to remove the IGP, asked him about a statement he made in the leaked tape, during an interaction with the former Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu who recorded the tape.

COP Alex Mensah is captured on the tape as saying “this IGP is not correct.”

“Honourable Chair, I will not deny that fact today, tomorrow or the next day, I will make that statement again, that the current Inspector General of Police is not managing the police service well.”

“It’s something I’ll not run away from, I’ll say it everywhere, anywhere that I go, and you can do your own investigations, call police officers underground and find out from them,” he insisted.

He was speaking on Thursday, August 31, 2023 before the committee set up by Parliament to investigate the leaked tape which centers on a supposed plot to expel the IGP of which he was present during recording.

According to him, police officers are equally not happy with the IGP’s management and this could greatly affect ruling party in the 2024 national elections since their friends and families also share in their pain and unhappiness with the IGP.

COP Alex Mensah

“My concern was and is, as we speak, majority of police officers are not happy, and if these same people are those who are going to police the elections then,…”

“And remember, police officers vote, their wives vote, their children vote, their mothers and fathers vote, that is my concern,” he said.

Daniel Bugri Naabu, a former Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) when he appeared before the committee on Monday, August 28, 2023 insisted that COP George Alex Mensah is the senior police officer whose voice was heard on the leaked tape.

He said his decision to record the conversation about the proposed plot was to safeguard the interest of his party [the NPP].

Mr Naabu, who confirmed the authenticity of the secret tape, indicated that his plan was to forward the tape to President Akufo-Addo to take action.

The content of the leaked tape generated a national discussion considering the nature of the conversation with senior police officers involved.

Following public reaction, Parliament set up the Committee, chaired by the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta-Akyea, to delve into the issue.

The panel has the mandate to investigate both the authenticity of the leaked tape and the intricate allegations that have captured the nation’s attention.

The Committee is to submit its report on September 10