Superintendent George Asare, a senior police officer implicated in the alleged plot to remove Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has accused Daniel Bugri Naabu, the former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), of inventing false stories about him.
Appearing before the committee investigating the leaked tape on Monday, September 4, Supt. Asare claimed that some of the statements attributed to him were fabricated by Bugri Naabu and not directly from him.
He explained that he visited Mr. Naabu’s office at Mr. Naabu’s request after the former NPP northern regional chairman informed him that the government was seeking a new IGP and asked for his recommendations.
Supt. Asare stated that he provided three recommendations to Mr. Naabu, which included COP Alex Mensah, Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, and Christian Tetteh Yuhuno.
He stated, “I went to Mr Naabu’s office on his invitation…after he told me that the government was looking for a new IGP and asked me for recommendations…I made three recommendations, including COP Alex Mensah, Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah and Christian Tetteh Yuhuno.”
Furthermore, Supt. Asare disclosed to the Parliamentary Committee that the recorded meeting, conducted by Mr. Bugri Naabu, occurred on June 19, 2023, at Mr. Naabu’s office in Osu, Accra.
He is the third witness to testify before the committee.
Previously, the primary witness, former Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Chief Bugri Naabu, underwent questioning by the committee. Following Bugri Naabu’s appearance, two police officers, Supt Emmanuel Gyebi and key witness, Commissioner George Mensah, also faced extensive questioning by the Atta Akyea-led committee.
In response to claims by COP Mensah that the IGP orchestrated the recording of the leaked tape and possesses the original copy, with suggestions to invite the IGP for questioning, various individuals have expressed varying opinions on the matter.
While committee member James Agalga indicated the possibility of inviting the IGP to assist in the investigation, former Deputy Defence Minister, Major Derrick Oduro (Retired), held a contrary view.
Major Derrick Oduro stated, “There is no need for the IGP to be invited because it is an accusation against him and I don’t know the terms of reference [of the Committee] and we are talking about a leaked tape, and I am not sure the terms of reference cover anything that will warrant the invitation of the IGP, and so I don’t think it is in a good direction for them to invite the IGP.”
