Don't reduce the Ghana police to Akufo-Addo police - Edudzi Tameklo to IGP

Head of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo has advised the Inspector General of Police (IGP) not to turn the Ghana Police Service into an institution that is influenced by the current government.

According to Edudzi, the IGP and the police command have turned a blind eye to illegal mining activities without arresting culprits.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, he said, “Before you get to Wassa Akropong, both side of the road, you see openly, people in the water bodies working. We have over 40,000 police officers in this country, over 13,000 soldiers in this country. None of them has the capacity to fight it. IGP Dampare is arresting protesters instead of galamseyers. Mr IGP, don’t reduce the Ghana police into Akufo-Addo police, don’t reduce the Ghana police into regime police. Because you see the whole international community is watching us,” he said.

He added that the IGP is more concerned with arresting innocent protesters of these same galamsey, rather than arresting unlawful miners.

“People who have their changfans directly on water bodies not lawfully mining, IGP can see them with his 40,00 policemen. They are not interested in effecting their arrest. What they are interested in is arresting innocent protesters.” he said.

Edudzi described the IGP administration as a secret state police, adding that he was delighted on the appointment of the IGP because he thought that Ghana would experience better policing.

“IGP Dampare, you have obtained a very dubious distinction for the things that you are doing. In fact, when you got appointed and I saw that you were a PhD holder and others, I was pleased within me that I will see a different policing. What you have turned your office into is more like a Gestapo. The Nazi police squad that they used to arrest Jews, that is what you have turned the service with integrity into,” he stated.

He further said, “Mr IGP, this morning I am talking directly to you. Forever, you will be remembered as the IGP who arrested protesters against galamsey, galamsey that your office had the authority and mandate to stop, 40,000 officers.

“If you go to Twifo Praso, on the bridge, you see people openly doing galamsey in the River Pra. IGP Dampare, you have a special office called police intelligence directorate so that intelligent directorate that you have established, they don’t have intelligence of people doing galamsey on our water bodies?

“Look in some of the videos openly. Are we saying the IGP is incapacitated; he cannot see these people? And when Ghanaian citizens take it upon themselves to draw that attention of duty bearers to the devastating impact, you arrest them and remand them for two weeks,” he added.

RAD/AE