The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, who also chairs the Parliamentary Committee investigating the leaked audio concerning the removal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare, has raised doubts about the authenticity of the widely circulated tape.
Atta Akyea made these remarks during a media briefing held in Accra on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
In his statement, Atta Akyea pointed out that the tape, which has been making rounds on social media platforms, appears to be a truncated version of a longer conversation. This observation was made in reference to a new tape provided to the committee by the former Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Daniel Bugri Naabu.
“It seems to be the case, because the second tape is a long conversation,” Atta Akyea said.
The leaked tape in question contains a conversation between Bugri Naabu and three senior Police Officers – COP Alex Mensah, Superintendent George Asare, and Superintendent Emmanuel Eric Gyebi – discussing plans for the removal of IGP Dampare, allegedly with the intention of aiding the NPP in rigging the 2024 elections.
Earlier in the proceedings, Bugri Naabu had confirmed to the committee that the tape was genuine.
However, during his appearance before the committee, IGP Dampare vehemently denied the allegations made against him by the implicated Police Officers. He stressed that these baseless accusations had caused significant distress to his family.
Furthermore, IGP Dampare dismissed any involvement in the secret recording of conversations involving the three senior Police Officers. Additionally, he refuted claims that he had maintained close contact with the opposition party’s flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
In response to the ongoing investigation, the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, and the legal representative for the Inspector General of Police, Kwame Gyan, held an in-camera hearing with Parliament’s ad-hoc committee responsible for probing the leaked tape.
This private session also included the presence of the three senior police officers implicated in the secret recordings, along with their legal counsel.
