RECAP
Atta Akyea: They’ve said a lot of things against you and they should sit in. You see, they are not going to say one word when the IGP is speaking. Their lawyers are not going to ask any questions. They have to listen to the voice of their boss and then probably when we retire in camera, then they will know. Now let’s get evidence out properly speaking.
CONTINUATION
Atta Akyea: You’ve made a point about the fact that how can somebody testify and later bring, if you like, the substantiating evidence. You’ve made that point clearly. Bear in mind that we have all been warned that what we are doing has nationalsecurity implications. That is why if you could hear me, I could checkmate my Vice that please don’t go there. I said it, some people were angry that why are you trying to stop your vice from… because this is a strategic listening and we need to be careful. That is why I could tell you right in your face, I wouldn’t sit down here for anybody to smear the IGP and I’m enjoying it, no. If we got in-camera and there is something that the whole country should hear and they will hear it So, counsel I crave your indulgence that when they are outside it will not affect the testimony of the IGP. It won’t affect it. And when they are here, it will not affect the IGP’s testimony in anyway because they won’t say one word. We are not going to permit them to say one word when the IGP is speaking. He should end it and then the wisdom of the Committee will be that look we’ve heard the IGP, and if you like, what has come into the public domain? Because some people were saying that the IGP should not speak in public. I am of the humble view and I have the backing of the committee that if matters about the IGP have been rolled out via this platform then why don’t you want to practice the Audi alteram partem rule or the party general to give the IGP the opportunity to respond to the initial issues? That’s all. And after that you accord him the respect of the other officers in a private in–camera situation for us to continue with the serious matters. Counsel, am I making sense or you think there are some other issues you want to say.
Counsel, Kwame Gyan: Mr. Chairman you have made a lot of sense
Atta Akyea: I over rule you.
Kwame Gyan: But I also think I made a lot of sense. I also made a lot of sense. Mr. Chairman what you have said is their presence here is inconsequential, then why are they here?
Atta Akyea: You see, their presence here is very important for the subsequent work we are about to do. You get the point? And initially there was no need for the IGP to be here. Please get my premise right because if you pay regards to the first tape, there was nothing there IGP has done. On the contrary there is a congregation of men who are talking about him. So why invite the IGP? There was no point but now that those men appeared before us, and they are saying certain things about the IGP, then it is consistent with the natural justice principle that the IGP should also make his initial remarks or if you like say what he wants to say either in confirmation or rebuttal to what they said and then we go into the conclave to do what is necessary. But to say that they should go out when the IGP is saying is not the end of the interrogation because we are telling you and we have to be very honest we respect where the IGP is siting all of us. Infact, we are nervous because he is in charge of the internal security of the realm called Ghana. You don’t toil with these matters. That is why when it’s all said and done, we know what to do as a committee, to exact meaning, substance and evidenceoff camera and then we work with it then and report to plenarySo, this is what we are attempting to do. And so, I’m afraid their sitting here is for their own benefit. The people seated here, for them to listen to what the Inspector General of Police will say and then we continue with the interrogation. You see, because how will they also prepare for what we are all about to do and what they said, we’ve given it to you. Haven’t we? We’ve given it to you all that they said we’ve given it to you but we couldn’t have brought the IGP here because the tape, I mean was not necessary that he should come. So, counsel I think we should rest this matter and then Vice you wanted to chip in or something?
James Agalga: Yeah
Atta Akyea: And then let the IGP deal with some of the issues in a very simple way and straight forward and then you know what to do.
James Agalga: Hon. Chair, my understanding of the objection raised is that it is an objection which raises questions of consistency. So, the previous witnesses who appeared did that in the absence of the IGP. So, counsel is saying that in good conscience and in fairness, why have we allowed the witnesses who previously appeared minus the IGP to sit in when it is his turn to take his stance and speak to the committee. Now one thing that we must bear in mind is that at the moment our proceedings are public it is a public hearing until we go out of sight and out of view from the cameras. That being the case I want us to adopt a middle ground. It cannot be said that the statement that the IGP is going to make here would be coded in a manner that these witnesses cannot hear. If we were to ask them to go into the next office, there is a screen. They will have the benefit of hearing whatever the IGP would say, no, for the sake of consistency so that now they are raising issues of equity, good conscience it shouldn’t appear as if you know, we are not extending the same treatment we offered the other witnesses to the IGP. So, on that score I think that the witness here will lose nothing if we are to say you know what kindly rescue yourself go into the next office you can watch on the screens if that will give them comfort, Chairman, I think we should proceed in that order in order to cure any possible perception that we are not extending the level field to the parties who appear before us.
Atta Akyea: There is no perception. There is nothing like giving somebody an advantage because they should say that their presence here will not give them the space to testify. That’s all they are saying and I have said I have given you a very good premise that there was no issue of consistency of treatment when we started the interrogation, because we couldn’t have called the IGP to come and sit in when we started. Nothing concerned the IGP. Vice, let’s get it right and I do not know the kind of disadvantage the IGP will suffer if the people are listening to him. What is the problem? There are no problems at all. They are not going to say one word. On the contrary, the one whose voice we will hear is the IGP. Nobody is going to, there is no lawyer here who is going to stop the IGP in the middle that when he was trying to tell us that if you like the preliminary issues and Counsel I want to stress this the preliminary issues that they said here, that we’re giving him space to state his position as a preliminary matter because he was not present when those allegations were made and we want to be fair to the IGP and we want the IGP to dilate a bit on some of the things they said. But to invent another principle that there’s inconsistency in this matter is neither here nor there because it is not the people sitting here who determine what the IGP will say. So, please Counsel if you want the IGP to speak let him speak. If you don’t want him to speak, say so. But with this other argument that their presence is evidence of inconsistency, is not borne out by what we have done here, the proceedings, because who knew what was going to happen today? But for the fact that they said I sitting here as a Chairman, I didn’t know what they were going say. So, how can I invite the IGP in advance to come and sit when I didn’t know what they were going to say. There is no member of this committee who what these individuals were going to say. In fact, we didn’t even call these individuals. We call Chief Bugri Naabu first is that not so? And then he said these were the individuals who were having if you like, a tete a tete with, that is why we called them. I don’t know whether my memory is messing me up but when we call Chief Bugri Naabu, these individuals were they here? They were not here. They (IGP and Counsel) are having a conference let them finish. Counsel what is your view and I want to proceed.
Kwame Gyan: Mr. Chairman, I also want you to be able to proceed. All I am saying is on the 17th, from you, your very self, hon. Chairman at page 4 of the report, the transcription you said, so Bugri Naabu will open the floodgate, I think the IGP is mentioned. Is he not? So, he could be a potential witness, notethat. We will invite the Police Commissioner too. That is why I am saying it was not after the testimonies that you knew who to invite. Before the testimonies, you knew who you were going to invite. So, at that point you should have invited the IGP. As to who was a potential witness it didn’t come after the testimonies. It came in your first meeting way before Bugri Naabu was called and I am taking this from a report given to us by this committee. I am not making anything up.
Atta Akyea: Can you tell this committee in a few words, I do not want to have a banter with you, you know you can’t do that. Listen to me carefully, can you tell this committee the injury you will suffer if they are seated here and then I take a decision. What injury are going to suffer. I don’t get it? What injury are you going to suffer so that we note it and take a decision. What injury are you going to suffer?
Kwame Gyan: Hon. Chair in the event that they stayed outside what injury will they also suffer? What injury will the committee also suffer?
Atta Akyea: The committee is not sitting only today and please mark my words very carefully and I’m going to say it finally because you can wave your right not to speak and I wouldn’t worry my soul at all. These are going to be my final words to you and I don’t want to continue with the banter. I don’t need it. You have an opportunity speak. You see, these individuals and even the IGP are going to continue after here. We are not ending proceedings today and some of the proceedings will be so important it will be in–camera. So, it is relevant to listen to what IGP is saying because the proceedings are not ending today that is what it is and the matters affects them and the IGP. Is like you saying that in the court of law there is a plaintiff and the defendant. The defendant is testifying, the plaintiff should go out. I don’t get the logic out of it. So, I won’t say more than this, I give the Inspector General of Police the opportunity to deal with the preliminary issues. And if he wants to do that, we will give him the space and if he doesn’t want to do that, I leave it to your as a lawyer that is what I will say for now. So, IGP we want to commerce the interrogation of the matter and I might want to lead in some areas and then we start.
Kwame Gyan: Mr. Chairman, may I crave indulgence once more. May we be guided by the ruling of the committee. Is this statement you just made the ruling of the Committee so that the record will reflect that this was the ruling of the committee.
Atta Akyea: Yes. You raised the objection and I overruled you. Yes. So that is it. I don’t know what else you want me to say and if you want me to overrule my vice, I will do that. Yes, because you see you’ve not satisfied me on one point which is very interesting. Am I doing anything here which will prevent the head of the police service from putting his story across, none. I’ve not done anything untoward to prevent him from speaking and I’ve said that there is no way whilst the IGP is speaking any of the witnesses or their lawyers will interrupt. There is not going to be any public cross examination or anything whatsoever and their presence here should not hurt the flow of what the IGP will say.
Kwame Gyan: Mr. Chairman, the IGP is ready.
James Agalga: Chairman, before we proceed, I need to address certain issues. Chairman with the greatest of respect I think as a committee it is important that we build consensus. I don’t like it when I raise issues that I think are clearly in tandem with practice and procedure and to be told in the face by my chairman that if you are minded, I would overrule my vice chairman. I think the committee must learn to build consensus. If you overrule me, I will call for a division and then my position on the matter is captured on record. So, I don’t like to hear statements like I could overrule my chairman and will make progress. If you say things like that, I call for a division so that how I feel about the matter is captured on record. So, with that in mind I think we can make progress. Let’s learn to build consensus in these matters.
Atta Akyea: How you feel about the matter has captured already because you spoke and it was done.
James Agalga: No but you said you would overrule me.
Atta Akyea: But the Speaker overrules us all the time
James Agalga: If you overrule me, I have a voice
Atta Akyea: But if the chairman cannot overrule the vice, then why is he the chairman?
James Agalga: I have a voice here if you overrule me, I will go for a division and you know what that means.
Patrick Boamah: Chairman, I think that counsel has given indication that the IGP is ready and we want to listen to him. I think that is what Ghanaians are waiting for. Thank you.
Atta Akyea: Inspector General of Police, have you had the benefit of listening to the audio tape?
IGP: Hon. Chair thank you and thank you to the members of the committee. I would like to say that hon chair if you permit me before I speak to that I want to make a few opening remarks.
Atta Akyea: Sure.
IGP: Thank you, Honorable chair. Honourable Chair there have been a lot of issues about my person. I will like to take the opportunity granted me today to speak to a few of them in about the next three to five minutes. Honourable Chair the first thing I want to speak to is my parentage and it is important for a very good reason.
I am a multi ethnic Ghanaian and the fundamentals is this. My father, Opanyin George Akwasi Akuffo Dampare, the mother comes from Akyem Wosu, with their ancestral home at Kwahu Asakraka, his father comes from Begoro, and my father’s mother comes from Akropong. My mother’s name is Agnes Siaw, maiden name, she comes from the Siaw family of Twinerase who migrated to live at Nkonya … So, looking at me that is the space of my parentage. I am a multi ethnic Ghanaian and that is why I am passionate about Ghana.
In terms of my education, I didn’t have the benefit of going to a secondary school but by the grace of God and by the mentorship of many as well as hard work, from private studies for my O’ Level through to A’ Level became a Chartered Accountant and acquiring Master’s degree with distinction up to the level that my Doctorate degree in Finance and Management. With multiple other professional qualifications that time will not permit. In terms of my policing career, Honourable Chair I entered the police service with an O’ Level as a recruit and by December this year I will have been 33years in the Service and it means that all my colleagues here today, in terms of who came to the police service first, I senior all of them. In addition to that, within the 33years that I have been a police officer I have risen through the ranks to become Commissioner of police and later HE the president of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo honoured me with the position of IGP. Hon chair my progression within the police service is this, I reported to training on 1st of December 1990. I completed training as a Constable on 30th of August 1991. And from Constable within a period of 24 years I became a commissioner, unprecedented. What is even more unprecedented is that from Constable, 1991, within a little period of over 6yrs, from Constable I became a Superintendent of police. And that is even more unprecedented than becoming a commissioner within 24 years.
Atta Akyea: Who was the IGP when you became a Superintendent?
IGP: Hon chair I don’t have that information readily, but if you would allow me to finish the opening remarks and I would be ready to answer any questions that come, so that I can flow.
Atta Akyea: Okay
IGP: Thank you. I became a Superintendent on 1st June 1997. So, becoming a Constable on 30th of August 1991, by 6 years and probably a few months I became a Superintendent of police. And that is very unprecedented.
This is how it happened, when I joined the service and looked at all the policies within the service, I realised that there was policy that encourages education. That if you attain a particular education, you will attain a particular rank. So, I started off my A level also by private studies. I was able to get my A level done and as a result on 5th April 1994 I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, that is 2 years after I have become a Constable.
Then in the course of it, still learning and taking advantage of the policy that encourage education, I embarked on a professional course to become a Chartered Account. I pursued the course and at a point when I passed certain sections of course which was within a year after I have become a Sergeant, I was promoted to Chief Inspector on 1st September 1994. Which means a Constable in 1991. Two years down the line a Sergeant in 1993 and then roughly one year down the line Chief Inspector 1994. Then I had a privilege, and also for the record, when I was at the Depot before I passed as a Constable, from recruit to Constable, by the grace of God I won all the awards, with the exception of one, which is marksmanship, that is shooting.
I had the privilege in 1995 to go to the Police Academy, then the Police College. And then, at the end of the day I became an ASP in 1996 and also the best cadet for the course. Also, by divine providence I won all the awards with the exception of marksmanship, which is shooting.
Thereafter, the same year, 1996, I became a Chartered Accountant. That is a course that I started and ended within a period of two and half years. So, when I became a Chartered Accountant I made a submission to the police leadership on the basis of the existing police regulations on promotions, and they promoted me based on that qualification to Superintendent of police, a little over a year after I have become ASP.
It means I am one of the few people ever in the police service who never became a DSP, Deputy Superintendent of Policebefore becoming a Superintendent. So that is for the record. What it means is that when I became a Superintendent most of the senior people around, including my own big brother, George, who was an ASP. So, from there I became Chief Superintendent after 6 years of being a Superintendent. After that, my Chief Superintendent was on 1st February 2003, that is from 1997, after 6yrs or thereabout, I became a Chief Superintendent and from there, roughly another 4yrs I became Assistant Commissioner of police and another 4yrs I become ever Deputy Commissioner of police. Which is Assistant Commissioner of police 2006, Deputy Commissioner of police 2010, Commissioner of police 2014. What it means is that within police regulations, promotion are based on the number of years you have served, your competences, your integrity, your character and availability of vacancies. And looking at my promotions, beyond the miracle aspect of it, the rest of my promotions followed the normal course. At times I did ask myself why, was God not in it to help me to keep moving the way I have to move.
So, in terms of my ranking in the police service it has been purely based on my competences, my academic qualifications and hard work because of the passion I have for the work.
I have not at any point in time been called aside by any individual and granted me any favour that I did not deserve. Hon Chair, in terms of positions I have served, I have been across virtually every command of the service. And at a point, because of my commitment to work, I was handling multiple schedules at the National Headquarters because if you gave me a work you just have to consider it done because that is me. I get things done and I will work around teams to get things done on the basis of Genesis 1:26 where I God himself said let us create, indicating that being the originator of teamwork you cannot do anything and function without teamwork. And that has been my style. So, in all this, it got to a point I become the most senior Commissioner of Police. That is the next to the Inspector General of Police and when that Inspector General of Police retired His Excellency the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo found me worthy to take that position and work together with my colleagues, together with all the othersecurity agencies to ensure peace, security, law and order in this country of ours. So, it is on this note that anytime I have the opportunity, I do say to Mr. President that forever, myself, my family, my wife and children and my extended family which are dotted across the country will forever be grateful to him for finding me worthy to occupy the position. And working in consent with my colleagues in order to prosecute the agenda of the police and now our constitutional mandate. Honourable Chair, let me speak briefly about my colleagues here. George is my big brother. Gyebi is my kid brother. Asare is my brother…We’ve together for far long. And my brother George knows. His wife, since I joined the police service till today, I call her my mum, and that will never change. And Gyebi my kid brother, when I became the Inspector General of Police, I called you and offered you the position of Director, Cybercrime. My brother Asare has already gone through the whole process at various places, and by the time I came he was at the position where he is today. We’ve not had recourse as to where precisely he wants to be. And this is how I’ve co-existed with all of them. And as you can see from behind all my management teams are here because that’s how we do our things. Then all of a sudden, this matter came up and the matter was about finding out what had happened and who said what and where it came from. And my brothers were given opportunity to come and speak. They did speak and made the indication that yes, they are involved in what was happening. And all of a sudden, instead of them to focus on that, they came out with wild allegations Hon Chair. With wild allegations that touched on my person, the police leadership that I lead, and the entirety of the police service without, until today that I am been told that now they have evidence, a shred of evidence. Hon Chair, at the time that they were making it, without a shred of evidence. And hon chair those wild allegations without a shred of evidence has brought a lot of pain to myself, my family across the country and especially my wife and children that you are so patriotic because you believe in what we call pan-Ghananism where you think that because of your multi-ethnic nature, everybody you see, as far as the person is Ghanaian is your brother or sister, mother or father, uncle or aunty. Then the pain also to my command, my leaders, my team that we work together that we all know. And the pain to the thousands of police people who are appreciating the strides that we are making in transforming the organisation to be the best institution in the country and a reference point for the rest of the world. They came, made all these allegations in order to cover up probably the shame associated with what they got themselves involved into in the first place. And I, an innocent person focusing on my job, working in consent with my team and commands across the country to keep the country safe, and make it to be at peace with itself, I’ve been asked to come and answer to these allegations which are wild, baseless, and I fell in my spirit that this is just not fair. Hon chair, it is just not fair. Are we killing patriotism? That anybody can just get up, making allegations upon allegations and people who go across the country at time 48 hours without sleep just keeping the country at peace will be called to answer allegations that are unfounded and that becomes something. Anyway, I’m here. I have no choice. I have no choice and I have come. And I say it to the glory of God, my maker who sustains me everyday that I will speak to the matters as you direct. I am doing this because of the respect I have for myself, for my family especially my children and wife, for the office that I occupy, for my brothers and sisters who are sitting behind who have pull ourselves together in an unprecedented manner and in teamwork to get things done for this country, and for the respect that I have for institution of state including the Parliament that we are here today. And more importantly, the respect I have for Mr. President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for honour that he has done me for making me the Inspector General of Police to work with my colleagues. And equally more important, for the respect that I have for the good people of this country. So, hon chair, I am here being asked to answer to wild allegations, unsubstantiated by my brothers in order to cover up their shame. I am ready. I thank you.
Atta Akyea: You quoted the bible ad it seems to me you are a student of the bible. Are you?
IGP: Hon chair, I am a Christian and the bible is my reference point. There could be a student of the bible who may probably be using the bible just for examination purposes and may not be necessarily a Christian. But I am a Christian and my reference point in terms of what guides me is the bible and word of God. Thank you.
Atta Akyea: Did you ever find in the bible that the innocent suffered. That the who claim he is innocent suffered. Have you heard it before? Did you read it?
IGP: Hon chair, I am a Christian who understands that and that is what it is.
Atta Akyea: That is why I am a bit surprised that you complain about maybe you doing a good job and you are going through some challenges and suffering because we know that the innocent can suffer. That’s the story of Joseph. He never slept with the wife of Potiphar but went to jail. Have you heard this Twi adage that onipa kɛseɛ na asem to no. Have you heard?
IGP: Hon chair I have. But the point I am trying to make is the fact that we are all human beings and at times these things happen. You may have all what it takes to handling all the situation. But when you are speaking to a matter and the feeling of how feel comes onboard it is normal. And the most important thing is that I understand all the issues you are raising and I am in synch with that because I am a Christian.
Atta Akyea: Now, Inspector General of Police, do you have a working relationship with chief Bugri Naabu?
IGP: Hon chair, I do not have a working relationship with him.
Atta Akyea: Inspector General of Police, if somebody alleged against you that you are the architect of the audio That you in cahoots with Bugri Naabu got these individuals taped. What will be your response to that Sir?
IGP: Hon chair, that is not true.
Atta Akyea: Inspector General of Police, it seems to me that every serious police officer will want to be an IGP. That is natural. Is it not?
IGP: Hon chair that is the case
Atta Akyea: And it is equally the case that when there is vacancy relating to such a high and powerful office and individuals are aware of the appointor of that high office there will be attempts to get to the appointor so somebody is appointed. Is that not so?
IGP: Hon chair that could be the case in the sense that human beings are different. There could be somebody who may go wrong to do that, and others too who may know that based on the quality they have, they maybe contacted and accessed for the position. And even those who may go round to do that, there may variance involved in the extent that they go.
Atta Akyea: Did you pay regard to the statement of hon Kofi Buah, the MP for Ellembelle? The statement he made on the House floor. Did you pay regard to that?
IGP: Ho chair I have sighted it and I have a fair idea what it contains
Atta Akyea: You know, there is a very serious allegation to the effect that you are the most powerful person in the realm, according to the statement that was said on the House floor to determine the outcomes of elections. What’s your response to that?
IGP: Hon chair I thank you for the question. The most important thing is that, elections involve so many stakeholders, and each one its role and the police also has its role. And election is a simple matter where each stakeholder plays its role and collectively, we end up ensuring that it is over and the people then decide who becomes their leaders. So, nobody has some supremacy in terms of when it comes to his or her – an entity or institution when it comes to its role in ensuring the elections are successful. As far as I am concerned all the stakeholders have to play their role. And the point is that because each role is unique you cannot even compare to say which one is on top and which one is not. So, as far as I am concerned all the stakeholders have critical role to play in ensuring that our elections are successful.
Atta Akyea: So, the upshot of what you are saying is that the IGP cannot determine the outcome of an election. Is that what you are saying?
IGP: Hon chair, that is exactly what it is, not that what I am saying. That is what it is. Everybody has a role. Every stakeholder has a role and then when we all play our roles the people will have to vote to determine their leaders. Thank you
Atta Akyea: Are you surprised to hear that when you are there as IGP because of your personality and what you stand or, the New Patriotic Party cannot break the eight?
IGP: Hon chair can you highlight a bit about my personalityand what I stand for?
Atta Akyea: It gleans from the document. It gleans from the document we gave you. So, I am just relating to the statement that was said on the House floor.
IGP: Hon chair I understand but if you could probably refer it and maybe let me have the benefit of how it was captured. If you can probably help me appreciate that aspect of my personality and what I stand for it will help me
Atta Akyea: My vice chairman is telling me that, that is not the verbatim statement. But your lawyer will tell you that I am permitted in law to make what we call inexorable inferences…
IGP: …to do my work, work in consent with my commands across the country and do our job how it should be it elections or any other matter. So, that is what I have to say with regards to the two connected issues you’ve spoken to. Thank you.
Atta Akyea: So, by your reckoning what is about you that people will pass a vote of confidence like this that if you are there NPP cannot break the eight and if you are not there then it becomes an opportunity to break the eight. What is informing this vote of confidence in you? And what is significant is that there is a lot of intelligence you have that I don’t know.
IGP: Hon. Chair, I still make a point that is somebody’s opinion and what is about me is doing a professional police job and there is nothing more than that.
Atta Akyea: Grateful to you. Now I yield space to the other members to ask questions and we note what the IGP will say.
James Agalga: I will take the floor
Atta Akyea: I thought you had residue powers when they finish?
James Agalga: No, no. These are preliminary matters
Patrick Boamah: Preliminary matters when people will speak?
James Agalga: These are privileges reserved for leadership
Patrick Boamah: Then continue
James Agalga: Yes. But, Hon Patrick Boamah do you want to deny the fact that leadership is entitled to certain privileges that you are not entitled to enjoy? So, let me take the floor
Atta Akyea: Inspector General of Police you’ve heard his contradiction. Leadership has privileges (teases Agalga). You heard that (IGP in smiles). And he is saying that he wants to call for a division (some members of the committee laugh). He said that. You see how people can contradict themselves. Okay, so, vice is going to probably sort of do follow up to some of the issues I raised. But he will have his turn. So, vice do you have a lot of questions on the follow ups before your turn?
James Agalga: Oh, they are not too many questions
Atta Akyea: Okay then
James Agalga: But just to place on record that this statement that the hon. Buah read which culminated in the institution of these proceedings simply recalled what he had heard from the leaked audio. So, the words contained in this statement are not words Hon. Buah generated or they are not a figment of his imagination they flowed directly from the leaked audio. So, the talk about breaking the eight etc are not his words. Just to place that on record. But Inspector General of Police you see if you go through the record of proceedings this committee furnished you with, you will find that there are some accusations which havebeen labelled against you which is to defect that you orchestrated the recording of the leaked audio. As IGP I want you to speak directly to this particular accusation. Did you play any role in respect of the recording of the leaked audio?
IGP: Hon. Chair, like the Chairman asked initially, I did not play any role in it.
James Agalga: Now IGP you also read through the proceedings and you find that in it, you may want to respond to this in the open, I don’t know how it sits with you, but you were also accused of being the worst IGP this country has ever had. How did you receive the accusation and what is your reaction?
IGP: Hon Chair thank you very much. Hon Chair I think probably my brother wanted to say I’m the best and he missed itBecause the records are there for everybody to see. The beauty of mankind is that everybody has an opinion and he can express it in any form or shape but that does not change the fact. And this is the point hon Chair, since my colleagues and I and the rest of the commands around the country had the opportunity by the grace of God and the honour done me by His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, we committed ourself to transforming the organization to become the best institution in the country, and a reference point of Africa and beyond in teamwork fashion based on Genesis 1:26. So even granted that I am the worst then all of us collectively are the worst including my probably my brother who was serving in that capacity as member of the team that I lead. So, I think it was a slip of tongue on his part. But let me speak to the issue. This is what it is. We the current administration want to be the best in terms of all those who have come before us and we have a good reason for that hon Chair. And we are there getting on to becoming the best in the history of the country and I will explain. The reason why we want to be the best and we are getting to be the best as a police administration under my leadership is that when most of our forebearers were there we were, we saw what they did right and the challenges they faced. So being a graduate of management and leadership and a continuous student of sociology, psychology and philosophy it is just clear that when you saw your forebearers doing what they were doing and you saw what they were doing right and saw the challenges they were facing and have this background and had the opportunity you surely should perform better than them. And it is simple, you do what they were doing right, you learn from their mistake and make them better so if you add them to what they were doing right there is no way you cannot be better than them. And this is what we are doing. And at a point maybe I will share with you so many interventions we have put across the country and working in consent with all the other security agencies that has brought us to this level of peace, security, law and order across the country in an unprecedented way. But the next point, hon. Chair is the fact that we don’t want to be the best in the whole life of the Police Service but rather we want those who will come after us to be better than us because by the same yardstick they are watching us in terms of what we are doing, those that we are getting right and the challenges that we are facing so that they will be able to outperform us and when they do that then they will also become better than us and all our forebearers and when that happens we will end up building strong institutions and not having strong men and this is what we are doing. So, it is not true that my administration is the worst. It can never be he missed it and with your permission I will speak to a few of the interventions that we put across. First your Hon Chair we came in at the time that so many places across the country were engulfed by criminal element especially armed robbers all over the place. And now across all the major highways you can feel it. In the past when you are travelling for Kintampo, Buipe –Tamale, you normally have to say your last prayers. What is the situation now? In the past when you are travelling from Tafo, Osiem, Begro to Kwahu it was virtually a no-go area. In the past when you are travelling from Kintampo, Zamramrama to Praine it was a horrific journey. In the past when you are travelling from Effiduase through Kumawu to Drobonso to Maamekrobo you must forget it. In the past when you are travelling from Bamboi, Bole, Tuna to Wa is another ball game. In the past when you are travelling from Takwa to Bogoso, Wassa Akropong it was hard sin. In the past when you are travelling even from Dunkwa Offin even to Assin Fosu a terrible situation and from Praso to New Adubiase to my big brother’s home Bekwai to Kumasi it was another thing. I can go on and on and on and as for Donkor krom it was a daily thing. We’ve worked together as a team at all levels of command and across all the security agencies to normalize the situation. Equally the crimes that were happening residential robberies in all our cities, we’ve stemmed the tide and in a committed way. Hon. Chair, with the support of the Police Council with discussion and with approval of His Excellency the President we have created seven more new police regions to bring policing closer to the people of this country. Because our assessment when we came to office, we saw that policing across the country was very minimal roughly about 47 or thereabout percent but with instructions from Mr. President we have been able to deepen policing in a manner that has never happened before. And that dovetail into the concept of visibility where we’ve demonstrated the presence of policing at all corners of the country through the establishment of 144 regional FU bases across the country. Currently the establishment we have been able to roll out 121 of them and this come with an average of 35 officers, number of motorbike and vehicles to ensure that they are engaging the communities, they are patrolling the highways and then they are patrolling the communities so that they will have a piece of mind to live their lives. Hon. Chair, I can go on and on and on. When we came, we have established police emergency medical intervention funds with the approval of Mr. President where GH₡6.1m is in there to ensure that every police officer who get injured in the course of duty can be sent toeverywhere in the world to give treatment to the person in order to come on board. Hon. Chair any process as we have seen with our quest to engage the communities and win their hearts and minds gone across the country with my team, identify and analyse all their concerns working and putting measures in place through special groups in order to ensure that they work and keep them safe. Hon Chair, we have also worked on the issue of decentralizing so many things that were centralized at the headquarters. The welfare department, counselling department, intelligence unit, processing of certain things including criminal checks. So, we are on the quest of ensuring that at the end of the day we leave the organization better than we came to find it so all these interventions almost about 45 or thereabout of them and putting it together working with other security agencies, that is what have brought us far in terms of the type of internal security that we enjoy. So, would anybody coming to say that you are the worst IGP is unfounded, is unfortunate and I think the best the person could have done if he had nothing to say is probably to keep quiet for the good people of this country to make a determination on us. And Hon Chair, the final point on this matter is that it is not about Dampare is about the Police Administration. The police is not a sole proprietorship. It is an institution with governance and management structures. Damapre is just one of the officers involved in the governance and management structure. So that is what it is and we work in consent and make sure all decisions that we need to take we take it as a group and when it needs the attention of the police council we get as well. But the interesting point is this as my colleagues will bear me out all these decisions where it matters, we send it to the regions, the divisions and the stations for them to hold meetings and get their inputs involved and that is the level of teamwork that we brought to bear on the work that we do. So, it isn’t about Dampare. It is about an institution that we have decided to work together because nobody put a rope in our neck to join the service and at the end of the day the service doesn’t belong me to any individual but once we are there to earn our daily bread in service of the people we have to find ways of working together and that is what I have done since I came and my colleagues are the best witnesses for that, I thank you.
James Agalga: IGP let me put on record that the police service is not on trial here so like counsel also pointed out much earlier we have some terms of reference that guides us in you know the conduct of this exercise.
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