IGP Dampare has stopped everyone from speaking, including the Public Affairs Directorate – COP Mensah

The Director-General of Operations for the Ghana Police Service, COP George Alex Mensah, says the current Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo-Dampare is not allowing police officers to express their displeasure about how he’s managing the institution.

According to him, Dr Dampare does not even allow the Public Affairs Directorate of the Service to discharge its duties as expected.

Appearing Friday, September 1, before the Committee tasked to investigate an alleged plot to remove the IGP, COP Alex Mensah said Dr Akuffo Dampare is micromanaging the police.
“As I have said earlier the current IGP is not managing the Service well because now he has shut the mouth of every police officer including the Public Affairs Director,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police also said the current IGP is the worst the country has ever had.

He said with him at the helm of affairs of the Police Administration, the Service is headed in the wrong direction.

“Honourable member and honourable chair, what I said yesterday, if you give me the opportunity today, I will say it again. For me, for the 31 years I have been in the Service, he [Dr George Akuffo Dampare] is the worst IGP ever,” he said.

Dr Akuffo Dampare is the worst IGP ever – COP Alex Mensah
“Honourable Chair, I will not deny that fact today, tomorrow or the next day, I will make that statement again, that the current Inspector General of Police is not managing the Police Service well.”

Meanwhile, the lawyer cum Chartered Accountant said he has been lobbying to be made the Inspector General of Police (IGP) since 2017.

He insisted that even though he has not been successful at that, he has not given up on that desire.

The Police chief also confirmed to the committee that he’s a sympathiser of the NPP.

“I gave my CV to someone to give to Bugri Naabu for him to lobby for me to be appointed the IGP. We all lobby. I started lobbying in 2017.

Background

On July 25, the Speaker of Parliament named Abuakwa South MP, Samuel Atta-Akyea as the chairperson of a 7-member ad-hoc committee to probe the recently leaked controversial audio in which voices are heard clandestinely plotting to oust the Inspector General of Police.

The viral audio, which revealed a supposed conspiracy by a senior police officer and a leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare from office, resulted in a debate on the floor of Parliament with the Minority calling for a forensic audit.

Subsequently, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin proposed the setting up of the Special Committee.

Mr. Bagbin asked the committee to submit its report by September 10, 2023.