Controversy continues to surround the Ghana Police Service as revelations emerge about a senior police officer’s involvement in lobbying for a change in leadership.
COP George Alex Mensah, who has been implicated in an alleged plot to oust the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has disclosed that Commander George Asare advocated for his appointment as a new IGP.
According to him, Bugri Naabu, the former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), informed Superintendent Asare that the Akufo-Addo government was contemplating a leadership change within the Police Service due to concerns about the current IGP’s performance.
COP Mensah recounted that Superintendent Asare then recommended him as a suitable replacement for Dr Dampare, leading to an invitation from Bugri Naabu for further discussions.
“Bugri Naabu told Asare that the IGP is likely to be changed and they are looking for a replacement, so Supt. Asare told him that there is a boy who can do the job well. So Bugri Naabu invited me to come so we could talk,” he explained.
This revelation comes in the wake of COP Mensah’s previous assertion that Dr Dampare is the worst IGP in Ghana’s history. He restated this view during his appearance before the parliamentary committee investigating the leaked tape where senior police officers are heard in conversation with Bugri Naabu, discussing the removal of the IGP.
“I can tell you that for the 31 years that I have been in the Police Service, this IGP is the worst IGP,” COP Mensah emphasized during the committee hearing on Friday, September 1.
COP Mensah further expressed his concerns about the state of the Police Service under Dr. Dampare’s leadership. He pointed out that morale among police officers had significantly declined during this period, and his attempts to raise these issues with the IGP had gone unanswered.
“Dampare is not managing the Police Service well and the majority of police officers are not happy. You can do your investigations. You can call the police officers underground and they will tell you,” COP Mensah said.
In addition to these revelations, COP Mensah openly admitted to being politically aligned with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and working in the party’s interest.
His statements echo similar sentiments captured in the leaked tape where he is heard advocating for the IGP’s removal to ensure the NPP’s success in the 2024 elections.
