IGP Keeps Mum On Cocaine Scandal

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, has refrained from making any comments on the cocaine scandal that has rocked the Ghana Police Service with the mention of some high ranking members of the police.

At a well-attended press conference at the police headquarters yesterday, which registered virtually every media house in Accra including correspondence of radio stations outside in the capital, Mr. Kwarteng noted that he would not make any comment on the current scheme of affairs.

"I am not going to talk about anything to do with the work of the Committee of enquiry, or the witnesses that have appeared before the Committee," he said, explaining that was not the acceptable practice in any part of the world since it had the tendency of prejudicing the investigations of the Committee.

Since the Committee was still investigating the scandal that has witnessed the mention of some big guns in the police Service, including ACP Kofi Boakye, CID boss David Asante Apeatu, his deputy, Mr. Ampewuah, and Superintendent Tabiri, the IGP noted that it would be inappropriate for him to make any comments, especially when the Committee was still investigating.

He has however given his word to Ghanaians, asking them to habour no fear whatsoever since according to him the Service would ensure that the truth or otherwise is established at the end of the day.

Though some Ghanaians have already expressed doubt about the outcome of the Committee sittings, Mr. Acheampong has expressed confidence in it.

He has thus indicated that neither he, in his capacity as IGP, nor the Service as an institution, would cover up for any individual or group of persons found wanting in the impending investigations.

For now, he noted that what is left is for the Committee to do its investigations thoroughly and present its findings.

If found culpable of any wrongdoing as being alleged, he noted that the officer or officers involved shall be made to face the appropriate sanctions as prescribed in the disciplinary procedures of the Ghana Police Service.

"Anytime a member of the police Service, no matter his position, falls foul of the law, he is dealt with without fear or favour," he said.

Earlier, Interior Minister, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, stated at the opening ceremony of the national police command conference held at the police headquarters that as a result of the alleged involvement of some police officers, there appears to be "a raging fire of disenchantment and disillusionment gradually sweeping through the entire Service".

Though the Georgina Woode Committee has been set to investigate the cocaine scandal to establish the truth, he stressed that "what is worrying is that the rather well-disciplined and close-knit Service appears to be crumbling in the face of some service personnel undermining each other and publicly volunteering information to the press regardless of laid down procedures in the Service".

"Whilst every effort would be made by the Ministry to weed out all undesirable characters in the Service, it behooves on you to do your own house-cleaning by being circumspect in your dealings with the public, particularly against the press," he cautioned.

Regardless of one's position, he affirmed that no individual or group of persons found guilty would be spared, emphasizing that they would be made to face the full rigours of the law.