The politicisation of the police force is demonstrated via the leaked tape – Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Former Deputy Communication Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says the leaked audio tape purportedly plotting the removal of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is evidence of the politicisation of the police force.

According to him, while he is not concerned about the plot to remove the IGP – as that can be chalked to office politics – what unsettles him are the reasons for the plot.

“And if you notice, the senior police officer – and some fingers have pointed to a particular COP – says that it’s not really about him. He is willing to sacrifice his ambition and that if the IGP is replaced and the IGP manages to win the 2024 elections he will be okay.

“So the issue for me really is the partisanship that this senior police officer displays in the conversation that he has with the NPP bigwig who was on the other line. That for me is the crux of the matter,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile.

He said the extent of politicisation expressed in the statements made by the senior police officer in the audio recording are very worrying and deserve to be seriously investigated.

“They are the ones who are responsible for ensuring security and the safety of all parties in elections as was the case in Assin North and Kumawu recently. So if you have an organisation that is politicised to this extent then even before the election starts you have a situation where one party has unfair advantage over the other,” he said.

The NDC Caucus in Parliament is pushing for a bipartisan investigation into the alleged plot to remove the IGP and suggestions of rigging the 2024 general elections.

The Minority MPs have protested vehemently against the alleged plot, and have called for a forensic probe to fish out those engaged in the unhealthy conversation so they may face the law.

The Speaker of Parliament as a result has proposed a seven-member committee consisting of three members each from the majority and the minority caucuses of parliament, and a technical person has been proposed to probe the leaked audio recording proposing the clandestine ouster of the IGP, George Akuffo Dampare.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin who proposed the Special Committee on Thursday, said he expects the name of the members within one week, according to JoyNews Parliamentary Correspondent Kwaku Asante.

Meanwhile, MPs on the majority side have doubted the authenticity of the recording and have also denied any association with or desire to rig any election.

According to the majority, the NPP will win the 2024 polls cleanly.