Member of Parliament for Builsa South, James Agalga, has confirmed that the draft report of the leaked IGP tape probe in circulation is partly authentic.
According to him, though the committee had not concluded its work, the viral draft report he had seen contained portions that were not different from the original.
James Agalga is the Vice Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee of Parliament that investigated the alleged plot to oust the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, from office.
The committee is yet to submit its report to the Speaker, but its work is unofficially out.
“I have seen the report, which is making the rounds; the committee hasn’t concluded its work yet, but I take note of the fact that certain things said in there may not be substantially different from what we said in the original draft,” he said in an interview with Joy FM.
The leader of the Minority on the Ad-Hoc Committee, Agalga, declined further public commentary on the details of the report though he substantiated aspects of the viral draft report.
He insisted that since the committee had not finished its work, it would be unfair to run commentaries on it.
DISMISS
The Chairman of the Committee, MP for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta-Akyea, has dismissed some claims in the draft report.
However, he has urged the public to exercise patience as they were yet to complete their work.
In a separate interview with Citi FM, the chairman attributed the delay in finalising the report to other parliamentary commitments and the committee’s dedication to ensuring a fair process.
He, however, assured the public that the report would be presented before the plenary for a decision to be taken once these challenges were overcome.
“A lot of things have happened, and we don’t want to come and give excuses for why we are late in bringing the report. It is just about to be concluded, and then the committee will converge to look at it and ensure an understanding that nobody has been short-changed before putting it before plenary.”
FINDINGS
In the leaked draft report, the committee was said to have found during the probe that Chief Bugri Naabu, COP George Alex Mensah, Supt. George Lysander Asare and Supt Eric Emmanuel Gyebi “conspired purposely to remove the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, because of his alleged unsubstantiated affiliation to the NDC.”
The viral draft report said further that, the combined effect of the content of the leaked audio tape and the testimony confirmed the affiliation of the three officers to the ruling New Patriotic Party.
The committee was said to have found that the three officers lied under oath before the committee.
According to the leaked draft report, the committee is recommending a further investigation and possible prosecution of the three senior officers “for perjury” under the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) and professional misconduct under the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) and the Police Service Regulations, 2012 (C.I. 76).
It states in part that the three senior police officers involved in the IGP leaked tape risk being prosecuted for perjury.
By John Bediako and Maxwell Ofori
