Leaked IGP audio: Security expert commends Bagbin over the constitution of 7-member special committee

Following the constitution of a 7-member special committee tasked with investigating the leaked audio containing information about attempts to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, a security policy expert, has praised Alban Bagbin for his choice of members of the team.

The committee, instituted by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, will be chaired by Atta Akyea, the MP for Abuakwa South; with the Vice Chair being the MP for Builsa North, James Agalga.

According to the security policy expert, Anthony Acquaye, while he would have rather preferred that the MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, led the team, because of his expertise and background, the composition of the team is fairly impressive.

“Hon James Agalga would have been the best person to chair this special bipartisan committee looking at his rich knowledge on security, conflict and law. Having pursued Master degree in Conflict, Peace and Security from KAIPTC and LLB, B.L from University of Ghana and Ghana School of Law respectively. Notwithstanding his substantial experience in serving as the deputy minister of Interior in the old regime of government and currently serving on Defence and Interior Committee, not excluding his past experienced in serving on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

“However, for the sake of parliamentary regulatory procedure, Hon Samuel Atta Akyea chairing the committee with his substantial knowledge and experience in his field as a lawyer, having worked as a state attorney at Attorney General's Department, after graduating from Ghana School of Law and later joined a private law firm, Zoe Akyea & Co., where he was made a partner and worked for fourteen years and having served as Chairperson for Mines and Energy Committee is remarkable,” he said in a statement.

Anthony Acquaye also detailed the experiences of the other members of the committee, and why he believes the team would be the best to do a good job on the task assigned to them.

The special committee set up by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is on the back of a leaked audio tape in which three voices were heard plotting the ousting of the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, before the 2024 general elections.

The voices, one of which is believed to be that of a former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bugri Naabu, are heard in the audios stating that the continuous stay of the IGP will not help them (the NPP) win the next general elections.

By way of the composition of the special 7-member committee, other members are Patrick Yaw Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central; and Ophelia Mensah, MP from Mfantseman, both on the Majority side.

Representing the Minority Caucus are Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South; and Peter Lanchene Toobu, MP for Wa West.

To lend expertise to the investigation, Dr. Isaac Lartey Annan, a lawyer, and human rights expert, has been appointed as the technical expert.

Read Anthony Acquaye’s full statement below:

For immediate release

26th July, 2023

SEVEN (7) MEMBER SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO PROBE LEAKED AUDIO ON IGP: ATTA AKYEA AS CHAIR WITH JAMES AGALGA AS VICE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, OPHELIA MENSAH HAYFORD AND PETER ĹANCHENE TOOBU MAY NOT GIVE OUT THEIR BEST ~ SECURITY POLICY EXPERT

The significant development, by the speaker of parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to finally constitute the seven-member special committee which will be chaired by Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, MP for Akim Abuakwa South Constituency with his vice-chair, being Hon. James Agalga, MP for Builsa North Constituency is a move that advances a course of action.

Hon James Agalga would have been the best person to chair this special bipartisan committee looking at his rich knowledge on security, conflict and law. Having pursued Master degree in Conflict, Peace and Security from KAIPTC and LLB, B.L from University of Ghana and Ghana School of Law respectively. Not withstanding his substantial experience in serving as the deputy minister of Interior in the old regime of government and currently serving on Defence and Interior Committee, not excluding his past experienced in serving on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

However, for the sake of parliamentary regulatory procedure Hon Samuel Atta Akyea charing the committee with his substantial knowledge and experience in his field as a lawyer, having work worked as a state attorney at Attorney General's Department, after graduating from Ghana School of Law and later joined a private law firm, Zoe Akyea & Co., where he was made a partner and worked for fourteen years and having serve as Chairperson for Mines and Energy Committee is remarkable.

Again, with the right support form Dr Isaac Lartey Annan, a legal practitioner to provide valuable expertise to the committee in its investigation of the matter is recommended.

Hon. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, MP for Mfantseman, even though, hold LLB. in Criminal Law, International Human Rights Law and Administrative Law and serves on Defense and Interior Committee, once a Police Officer, with no clarity on which rank she retired with, since at one point, the information retrieved says retired with Assistant Superintendent of Police and at another point she retired with the rank of Chief Inspector, which ever rank among the two she retired with, in my view will make intimidated as she interrogate a superior officer with the rank of Commissioner of Police, which as a result may affect her work output.

Hon Peter lanchene Toobu, MP for Wa West with his experience haven served and retired from the Ghana Police Service as senior officer of rank Superintendent of Police, on the other hand, should have been a great asset or value to the committee in it work but his utterance in an interview with Umar Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, that he see know no dangerous and threatening the leaked tape was and so Ghanaians should shift their focus to more meaningful matters and aviod wasting time investigating the claims made in the tape or attempt to identify the individuals in it. Furthermore, he alluded to the fact, that the state should not waste precious time to investigate it, and that " What we have gotten from the tape is disgraceful, shameful, and very unethical. If we give an ear to such things we will destroy the police institution" such utterance from him as a member of the committee undermines his quest to give out his best in ensuring throughly investigation to ensure right recommendations for security sector reform.

The inclusion of Hon. Patrick Bomah and Hon Eric Opoku is remarkable due to their long serving experience in political matters.

Sign

Anthony Acquaye (MA. in Security, KAIPTC)

Security Policy Expert, at Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy

0556783703

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