Plot to remove IGP: Dampare to appear before committee on September 12

Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has been called to testify before the ad hoc committee on Tuesday, September 12, according to Samuel Atta Akyea, chairman of the committee looking into the alleged conspiracy to oust the IGP.

The purpose of this invitation, according to Mr. Atta Akyea, is to provide the IGP a chance to tell his side of the story to the Committee since serious accusations are being made against him.

In an interview with JoyNews’ The Probe, the Chairman said, “On Tuesday, all the individuals (Chief Daniel Bugri Naabu, Supt. George L. Asare, (COP) George Alex Mensah, and Supt. Emmanuel Eric Gyebi)… will come back with their lawyers.

“Also, the most prominent person whose name has been bandied about, the IGP himself should also come with his lawyers.”

He emphasized that this session would take place behind closed doors, adding that in order to safeguard national security, certain topics have to be kept from the public’s view.

“Some serious allegations have been made in public, but the substance of the allegations has not been made in public. That is to say, the evidential support for those allegations is what we are going to unearth, so which piece of evidence that we’ll give to the public that will not hurt national security, we’ll exercise that discretion,” he added.

The forum was not being organized in order to nominate an IGP, and the Committee did not want to harm the IGP’s image, according to the chairman of the committee.

He emphasized once more that the Committee would not let “the IGP to be disgraced and insulted without giving him a hearing.”

Mr. Akyea emphasized that the democratic approach to solving the problem is to give the IGP a chance to defend his name.

The Chairman said, “Well, maybe let’s give ourselves about three hours of a shut out,” when asked how long the hearing will be permitted to be made public.

He added, “I think when it’s necessary for the public to come into the space, why not? But when it is frightening that what is ongoing is not good for national security, then we have to shut the public out.”

The IGP has been invited by the Committee, and the Chairman expressed his confidence that he won’t decline it.

“I don’t believe it will come there; that the IGP will say that ‘I am not going to come to Parliament,’ when he has a whole opportunity to hallow his name.”