This is a transcript of the part 2 of the day 2 of COP Alex Mensah’s submission before the Parliamentary Committee probing the leaked audio about the IGP. Atta Akyea, MP for Abuakwa South is the Chairman and James Agalga, MP for Builsa North is the Vice Chairman.
The sitting was suspended for the witness to corroborate the audio with the transcription done by the Committee.
Atta Akyea: Ladies and gentlemen, I want to call the meeting to order. Counsel (for witness) before we had the break, you requested that you needed time to compare the audio that have been transcribed.Have you finished with the exercise?
Counsel: Mr. Chairman we have done so.
Atta Akyea: Okay fine. Alright. So, if I should capture what my colleague; we are waiting for him but we want to proceed; said, did you see that, that is a good transcription of what is on the audio?
Counsel: Mr. Chairman the question was directed at the witness, if, would you want me to ask.
Atta Akyea: I’m asking you
Counsel: Very well
Atta Akyea: Yeah, I’m asking you first
Counsel:We found some few issues with the transcription. We had an instance of wrong attribution, where one person spoke and it was attributed to
Atta Akyea: Another person
Counsel: That is so
Atta Akyea: Okay
Counsel: The transcription was also not verbatim. It wasn’t verbatim transcription. There are instances where words have been replaced, and sentences rephrased, generally. And then we also noticed the fact that the transcription and the audio when compared appeared to have been edited.
The flow of conversation in some portions – the people at the meeting will be speaking about one thing, and it jumps to another area. So, these are the general observations as I had.
Atta Akyea: Okay fine. Now do you see portions of the transcription which represent you, what you said?
COP Mensah: Yes. Mr. Chairman
Atta Akyea: Are there portions of the transcriptions that can never be attributed to you?
COP Mensah: Yes. Mr. Chairman
Atta Akyea: Okay, what are the portions please?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, if you go to page three of the transcription
Atta Akyea: Okay
COP Mensah: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, line eight
Atta Akyea: Yes
COP Mensah: I saw something that I want to find out. I was doing that because you will go on retirement maybe confident and to work for, and to change power, I don’t remember we discussing anything like that
Atta Akyea: That represents what Chief Bugri Naabu said
COP Mensah: Oh okay
Atta Akyea: Yeah. It is not yours. That’s Alhaji’s
COP Mensah: Then when we go to page 4, line 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, because I wouldn’t want doctor to become the flagbearer, and we lose the elections. Mr. Chairman as I sit here, I can’t remember
Atta Akyea: You cannot remember?
COP Mensah: Yes. Mr. Chairman
Atta Akyea: But this piece of transcription, did you have a voice correlation on the audio?
COP Mensah: Yes, yes, yes. It was. Yes, it was in the audio, yeah
Atta Akyea: And is that your voice or it’s been improvised?
COP Mensah: The voice resembles my voice but I can’t remember making those statements. As I’m saying I can’t remember
Atta Akyea: Okay
COP Mensah: I’m not denying or accepting because I can’t remember Mr. Chairman
Atta Akyea: So therefore, you are having memory challenges in relation to your own voice?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, it is not everything that you say that you can remember anytime
Atta Akyea: Yes, so what will jolt your memory is your own voice on the tape, is that not so?
COP Mensah: Yes, yes
Atta Akyea: Yes
COP Mensah: But I can’t remember saying it, Mr. Chairman
Atta Akyea: hehehehe. Commissioner that is the way of life.You can’t remember everything, but you can’t deny your own voice. I put it to you
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, I can’t deny my own voice, but I can doubt a voice that resembles my voice
Atta Akyea: So, the inference is that, you are saying that somebody is trying to mimic you, is that what you are saying?
COP Mensah: Exactly Mr. Chairman, I’m doubting that voice
Atta Akyea: Alright. That’s fine. Okay fine. So that is a very interesting dimension to this, that somebody is trying to set him up, that’s fine. Now I want you to take the transcribed document and delineate all that you admit before we proceed.
You might have done that already, I have a red pen here, if you want to use. All that you accept, and you remember, be good enough to just underline and then we take it up from there.
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, what I did is a reverse of what you are asking me to do. I tried to look for those that I don’t remember
Atta Akyea: Okay
COP Mensah: So now if I have to talk about those that I remember saying, maybe then I will need to read and then when I see something then I tell you that I said this
Atta Akyea: You see with the greatest of respect, you are having three lawyers.With your good self, you are three lawyers, and we gave you a huge space so you do a good comparison so you know what has happened. But right now, it seems to me, I mean you’re now talking about the fact that, you remember somethings and you don’t remember somethings, because I thought the purpose of the exercise was to do the comparison and then you will know what you accept, and then you will also know what you don’t accept, that’s all. That comparison, has it been done?
Counsel: Mr. Chairman I think what the witness is trying to say is that, when he did the comparison, he rather focused on the portions that cannot be attributed to him, but your question was for him to state what can be attributed to him, so what we have here really has marks of portions that he does not confirm, so it will just be the reverse, if he can, if he…
Atta Akyea: The reverse is true,
Counsel: That’s so
Atta Akyea: So, if by your own permutations, if there are some that you accept, then by comparison, you should know what you don’t accept, is that not so? That’s very logical
COP Mensah: Yes, Mr. Chairman that’s why I said I’m going to look through now, because those that I don’t accept, I’ve marked it, so that I will be reading those that I accept, to you.
Atta Akyea: But that is inherent in the exercise you did. So, the exercise you did, you were walking through what you accept, and by necessary inference you will know what you don’t accept, because how can you know what you accept if you cannot tell us what you do not accept, they go hand in hand
Counsel: Mr. Chairman, I think we are actually talking about the same thing. The comparison that he did, he has marked portions of where he doesn’t accept. So, all the portions which are not marked are portions that he accepts.
So, as we sit here, we have that in our hands, but his confusion, I’m sorry about that, but his issue with the question is that you were asking him to give you all the portions that he accepts, mark those once out.
Atta Akyea: Yes! And I thought that is why you took our time away, is that not so?
Counsel: Yes, we did
Atta Akyea: So, let me have it.Those things that he accepts, mark it accept, because we are going to question him on what he has said.
Counsel: Mr. Chairman
Atta Akyea: Yes!
Counsel: We have marked out the portions that we don’t accept
Atta Akyea: Okay
Counsel: Yes, but that is the only copy that we have, so we want the committee to have.
Atta Akyea: Have you also marked out where you accept?
Counsel: The portions that we don’t accept are very few, marked, and they’re all marked out, so all others are accepted. Otherwise, the paper will be a lot of err… all others are accepted.
Atta Akyea: All of them have been accepted. Okay, so errrm, I want him to tender it in evidence. Give it to him let him tender it to evidence
Counsel: Will Mr. Chairman want to lead him, to do that?
Atta Akyea: No, no, no. It’s simple. So, the transcript is hereby tender in evidence, that’s all
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, as my counsel said, we’ve marked the portions that we don’t accept, all others are accepted
Atta Akyea: Yes, so tender it in evidence
COP Mensah: So, I tender it in evidence
Atta Akyea: Yes, very good. We’ll make copies now.
Patrick Boamah(member): Chairman, respectfully
Atta Akyea: yeah, want to mark it, should I?
Patrick Boamah: Yes. But since he’s saying that, those portions that he’s marked are not accepted, I don’t think they will be more than, will they be more than ten paragraphs?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, we have 1,2, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9, about 9 paragraphs. But not all the paragraphs. Just some sections of those paragraphs
Patrick Boamah:Mr. Chairman, I suggest that once it’s been tendered, they’ll make copies of those portions that he has marked, then the rest, we have it already, and we can
Atta Akyea: No, it should be all
Patrick Boamah: All of them?
Atta Akyea: Yes
Patrick Boamah: The forty-five pages
Atta Akyea: We can situate it properly
Patrick Boamah: Okay, no problem
Atta Akyea: So, let the records reflect. The transcription, which was exacted from the audio tape and perused by Commissioner George Mensah, in the company of two solicitors of the Superior Court of Judicature, in which what,he has rejected is marked, in which, what he has accepted is not duly marked, is hereby tendered in evidence and marked as exhibit 1. Okay so, colleagues want to see what I mean you have accepted, and then the cross examination will continue if you like.
I think we should spare a moment to photocopy it. We are not many here, yes, in the meantime, we can continue, whiles we wait for you. Now commissioner, with the greatest of respect, what advantage did you seek to achieve by engaging Chief Bugri Naabu?
COP Mensah: Thank you Mr. Chairman, for now, my engagements with Mr. Bugri Naabu did not give any advantage except the fact that my name and my pictures are trending the whole world. There are people who have not even heard my name, seen me before
Atta Akyea: Counsel I made a mistake, but let me find out. Did you people have lunch or you were too busy?
Counsel:We were too busy
Atta Akyea: oh! I am sorry
A voice said lunch was provided.
Atta Akyea: Lunch was provided? Okay fine. Do you want us to excuse you so you have some lunch?
Counsel: Mr. Chairman no, we want to proceed
Atta Akyea: You want to proceed. Commissioner and counsel, listen to me carefully so that it doesn’t become a challenge. I’m saying that, I’m talking about the matters which predated the tape, you get the point? So, what advantage did you want to secure by engaging Chief Bugri Naabu?
COP Mensah: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Now, I’ve gotten the question very clear. Mr. chairman, my going to Mr. Bugri Naabu was through his own invitation, and the purpose was that, the current IGP, the probability that they are going to change him is high, and they are looking for somebody who can do the job and do it well
Atta Akyea: Whose thinking was that? Who was thinking like that? Is it Bugri Naabu who invited you?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, maybe when I complete my statement, you will get the answer from what I’m going to say.
Atta Akyea: But I want to understand your premise, if not I will lose the conclusion. Let me find out from you, you are testifying that you didn’t go to Bugri Naabu, he invited you. What was the purpose of his inviting you?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, that was what I was going to say. The purpose of me going to Mr. Bugri or Mr. Bugri Naabu inviting me was that, one of my boys, the police officers has gone to tell him that if they are looking for a new IGP, then the man that he thinks can do the job, and do it well, is Commissioner George Alex Mensah. And Bugri Naabu said oh is that so? Then bring him and let me see him. That is why I ended up at Bugri Naabu’s office.
Atta Akyea: Did you get the impression that, chief Bugri Naabu was scouting for a new IGP?
COP Mensah: My impression was that, yes, he was scouting for a new IGP.
Atta Akyea: Can I infer therefore that he was dissatisfied with the work of the current IGP?
COP Mensah: Yes, Mr. Chairman, he made it clear, and that is why I was even surprised about some of the audio that I said the audio was edited. Because he said so many things about this current IGP, and what he has done and what he is not doing, and the promise he gave him that he has not satisfied, and the fact that, likelihood of him being changed is about hundred percent, and they are scouting for one person who can do the work well.
Atta Akyea: I can see now your memory is working you know. Your memory is working so strong. Please Commissioner, who is this go between? You mentioned somebody who is like a go between, you know, the one who said certain good things about you to Chief Bugri Naabu and therefore they should bring you to him to meet the person who can do the job better. Who is this go between?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman that is Superintendent George Asare
Atta Akyea: So, did you have faith in Chief Bugri Naabu that he could assist you or anybody else to become an IGP?
COP Mensah:Honorable Chair, I had, because I knew or have heard of his name when it comes to NPP party circles, that he was a former chairman, he is a friend of the president, so once my boy told me that the man says he was ready to recommend me, but he want to see me, I said why not? If somebody wants to see you not for a bad thing but a good thing, I’ll go.
Atta Akyea: I understand. Okay let me give space to vice to further interrogate the matters.
James Agalga (Vice Chairman): Commissioner, you went to see Bugri Naabu to lobby for you to become IGP, to replace Dr. Akuffo Dampare. Now, why were you interested in replacing Dr. Akuffo Dampare as the IGP?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chair, if you heard me right, Mr. Bugri Naabu told Mr. Asare that the IGP is likely to be changed and they are looking for a replacement.
James Agalga: Did you find out why Bugri Naabu told you they were looking for a replacement for the current IGP?
COP Mensah: Yes, I did.
James Agalga: What did you establish?
COP Mensah: What he said was that, they want to change him, because they don’t like the kind of work that he is doing. That’s all that he said.
James Agalga: But you have insisted yourself that the current IGP is not managing the police service to your expectation. Now Commissioner, what could you have done differently?
COP Mensah: Thank you Mr. Chair, yes, I have insisted that he is not managing the service very well, why? Because now, as we speak, he has shut up the mouth of every police officer including the public affairs department, nobody speaks.
A little chat amongst the committee off record.
James Agalga: Well, I am advised, so I will change my line of questioning, but well. Now let me take you to back to some of the things you said. Now Commissioner, you recall, you said in the audio that, yes, this man sitting up there will not help our party. This man sitting up there. You can reference page 4 of the record, the, the transcript…
Atta Akyea: They don’t have it, they’ve surrendered it
James Agalga: Oh, they’ve surrendered it?
Atta Akyea: Yes, to us. This what they are bringing. Yeah, they’re running copies
Counsel: We have the benefit of our colleagues.
James Agalga: Yes, you said yes, this man up there won’t help our party. What kind of help were you referring to?
Counsel: Mr. Chairman, in the absence of his record, which he has marked portions that he didn’t remember saying, it’s difficult to compare what we have of our colleagues which is not marked, yes, with what has been sent for, yes, so it’s difficult for us.
James Agalga: He said this sitting up will not help our party. What kind of help were you referring to?
Counsel: Mr. Chairman, in the absence of his record which he has marked portions that he doesn’t even remember saying it is difficult to compare what we have of our colleague which is not marked with what has been sent. Yes, it is a bit difficult for us.
Atta Akyea: COP Mensah, is superintendent Asare your friend?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman, Asare worked under me as a regional police commander, Accra. So, he knows me, I know him. He is not a friend that we meet aside from work and do things no. But he knows me and I know him.
Atta Akyea: And you’re very confident to be speaking concerning very critical matters whiles he is seated with you?
COP Mensah: Yes, Mr. Chairman because I have dealt with him on several issues as a regional commander so I have confidence in me.
Atta Akyea: Do you expect him to confirm the issues that were discussed at the behest of Chief Bugri Naabu?
COP Mensah:Mr. Chairman, I expect Asare to speak on what he said. The discussions I had with Bugri Naabu was me and Bugri Naabu. He might be there but might not hear or get all what we said.
Patrick Boamah: Commissioner Mensah, please I just have this simple question for you, what is the name of the gentleman who came and inform you that Chief Bugri Naabu wanted to see you? Who is that person?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chairman that Mr. George Lassandre Asare.
Patrick Boamah: So we are yet to deal with that, okay, thank you.
Atta Akyea: Commissioner, in the course of the discussion or conferencing or whatever you had with Chief Bugri Naabu, at some material time, Superintendent Asare was there physically.
COP Mensah:Yes, Mr. Chairman he was there but as I said if he heard, because I was talking to Bugri Naabu, Asare was sitting at the back – if he heard it yes, he can confirm but I cannot say that he heard everything that I was saying to Bugri Naabu.
Atta Akyea: Were the two of you expecting that Superintendent Asare will hear what you were saying? Were you expecting that he will hear it? Or you didn’t want him to hear it, in the same meeting?
COP Mensah:Mr. Chairman, what I was telling Bugri Naabu was meant for Bugri Naabu but Asare could have heard it.
Atta Akyea: And if he heard it then he will confirm it. Is that not so?
COP Menah: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Atta Akyea: Okay Your good friend here, you know he was the reason for the adjournment, he says now he has the basis to continue with his interrogation. I think he has the floor. So please listen carefully and see how we will be able to make some progress.
COP Mensah:Mr. Chairman, you mean err oh okay honorable (Eric Opoku), maybe honorable doesn’t know me but I know him very well. Yes, he was my student at Bekwai SDA Secondary School.
Atta Akyea: So, this is a teacher pupil affair (laughter in the auditorium)
Eric Opoku (Member): I see. I am trying to remember it is difficult. Actually I am a product of Bekwai SDA, yes. I was there for my sixth form course. Yes, and I was the school prefect in 1994 so that may be right. Anyway, I have to do my work as bestowed on me under the constitution and so COP, I’ve received a copy of the transcript that you went through, I’ve made some markings.
I am taking you to page four, speaker two, because I wouldn’t want doctor to become the flag bearer, and then you have put some question marks there and it appears you have written something there that cannot be read. Can you read what you have written there for us?
COP Mensah:What I have written there is that I don’t remember saying that, Mr. Chairman.
Eric Opoku: You don’t remember saying that?
COP Mensah:Yes
Eric Opoku: You recall that yesterday, this same portion was read to you by honorable Agalga and you know this is Parliament House anything you say here is recorded and if you want us to give you the script it can be done within a twinkle of an eye. As we speak I have a copy of whatever transpired yesterday and every member here has a copy. This was the question that was posed to you yesterday, and this is the answer you gave.
I just want to remind you so that you can reconcile your position on this yesterday with what you’re saying here today. Honorable Agalga asked the question, he said, let me take you back to the substantive issue, you see captured in the audio these are some of your own statements.
You said, because I would not want doctor to become the flag bearer but he referred to this statement and then he said this is captured in the audio, do you agree to the fact that this statements attribute to you are captured in the audio which was played to your hearing commissioner? And this was your answer. Yes, I made it.
COP Mensah:Mr. Chair, the question was, did you hear that this statement was in the audio and I said yes, I heard it.
Eric Opoku: No
Atta Akyea: I heard it is different from I made it. If you say I made that means you made the statement. You didn’t say that?
COP Mensah:I remember saying that I heard it but I don’t remember that I said it.
Atta Akyea: Commissioner, I am pleading with you to be careful because both of us are professional lawyers. You see if you want us to play back what happened at the last sitting, it can be played back o because do you know you are trying to indict the secretariat that they’ve again edited what you said. So please again I am begging you.
I wouldn’t want to go too far with this matter but if you believe that today the secretariat had attributed something you didn’t say they will play back your voice which was not the one on the tape but write here. So please let’s be very careful. Counsel, you get the full implications of what I am saying?
Let’s be very careful because I told you and I want to insist there is no malice afore-thought and there is no way anyway anybody will sit here and we will mess the person up. We will never do that. It will be bad to do that. So do you want me to get the secretariat to play back your voice?
Commissioner if you want it, we need to play back your voice because you are trying to challenge the integrity of what the parliament is recording – the proceedings.
COP Mensah: Thank you Mr. Chairman, I am not in any way challenging what they have put out. He asked me do you remember saying this and I am saying that I don’t remember saying that and this is what I remember saying.
Samuel A. Akyea (Chairman): Commissioner, only yesterday what he was trying to draw your attention to was what transpired yesterday before this committee. You see, so the testimony is what culminated in the proceedings so he is reading back the proceedings to you. Like somebody saying that the judge did not record the proceedings well. So, this is what it is so it is not about the tape issues. It is about yesterday’s proceedings.
COP Mensah:So, Chairman, if that was what I said yesterday then maybe I didn’t say what was in my mind because what I am saying today is what I intend saying that I don’t remember saying that. So, if I said that yesterday,
Atta Akyea: You want to change it?
COP Mensah: Yes. Mr. Chairman
Atta Akyea: But that’s what I asked you? That was my initial question when we came over here. I said to you that is there anything you said previously and upon reflection you want to change and you said no. You remember, I said that. Commissioner you need to pipe down because these matters should be very fresh on your memory because it was just yesterday. Okay, so why don’t you read it to him again, if he wants to change it then it will be part of record we will see how to evaluate what he is saying?
Eric Opoku: Commissioner, which one do you want to change now?
Atta Akyea: Please my dear colleague read it to him again because what you read to him is now a challenge. So be gracious enough to read the question from Agalga, the vice and his response yesterday then you refresh his memory.
Eric Opoku: In fact, yesterday honorable Agalga read a statement attributed to you from the audio in question and then; let me read exactly what he said, I’m quoting, because I would not want doctor to become the flag bearer and then we lose elections then it goes on, gave you the position, break the eight meanwhile this IGP is not correct, Alhaji you de3 you have done politics, you know elections is just, sometimes elections mafia work is inside o, Alhaji hmm, no not at sometime as for that one, then you said, I am just saying.
Then Alhaji comes in, Mafia work is inside not sometime, then you said, yes and this man sitting up there will not help our party to do anything”.
And the question was, this is captured in the audio, do you agree that these statements attributed to you are captured in the audio which was played to your hearing commissioner? And then you answered, yes, I made it. And so, I wanted you to reconcile your answer to this question yesterday with the answer you’re giving today.
COP Mensah: Hon. Chair, Mr. Agalga yesterday out of this portion did not ask just one question, he asked a question as to the mafia work and I agreed that yes, I said it and I explained that when it comes to mafia work, I was talking about if proper security is not provided at your stronghold, the opposition can come and cause a mess and people will not come to vote and you are likely to lose the election. But when he went to where it is written that I said doctor and he said which doctor were you referring to, I said I don’t remember saying that.
Eric Opoku: You see, Mr. Chairman, in that very statement we are talking about a doctor and you also said that this IGP is not correct. It is also in the same statement and then the mafia work is also in the same statement. So, when you look at the proceedings, hon. Agalga asked you this first question and then proceeded to ask you question about the mafia.
The responses are here and then he proceeded to ask you the issue of whether the IGP is correct or not and you admitted that indeed the IGP is not correct. All these things are in these statements and you said you made it and you explained and so I am becoming confused that today you sit before this committee to deny knowledge of this statement. That is my worry.
COP Mensah:Mr. Chair, the only part of the statement I did not accept is about the doctor.
Eric Opoku: Okay. So you don’t accept the doctor?
COP Mensah: Yes, Mr. Chair
Eric Opoku: That you didn’t say doctor? Is that the case? Because the whole statement is being attributed to you. So are you saying to the committee that you did not mention doctor there?
COP Mensah: I said I don’t remember saying that to Mr. Bugri Naabu.
Eric Opoku: So I am asking you now, this statement is on the audio and is being attributed to you that you have made this statement because I wouldn’t want doctor to become the flag bearer and then we lose the elections…..gave you the positions….break the eight….meanwhile this IGP is not correct. Alhaji you de3 you have done politics you know elections not just….sometimes elections mafia work is inside o. Did you make these statements?
COP Mensah:Mr. Chair, some portions of the statement I did not, some portions I did.
Eric Opoku: Which are those portions you don’t remember?
COP Mensah: I don’t remember mentioning the name of that because that I wouldn’t want doctor to become flag bearer and we lose elections but for the rest of it I made it.
Atta Akyea: Commissioner, this dimension of doctor, did you hear your voice on the audio or somebody’ voice is trying to play with your voice?
COP Mensah: Mr. Chair, I had my voice on the audio and yesterday I said I heard my voice but I don’t remember saying it.
Atta Akyea: It is very natural that what you forgot, hearing your own voice should remind you. I said that. Is that not so?
COP Mensah: Yes, it is natural
Atta Akyea: So, because of the memory lapses which is the lot of humanity. You can forget. Be very careful that when you hear your voice and you identify it as your voice then you should know you said it. That’s it. Because it can’t be otherwise. The voice that you are speaking to us now is being recorded.
When you become whatever the next five years you might not remember all what happened here but immediately, they play back your voice it should jolt your memory and you need to accept that yes, that is my voice. That is all that we are trying to achieve. Let’s get it that simple and it will be fine.
COP Mensah: Thank you, Mr. Chair but my problem is that because technology you might hear some voices that looks like your voice but you don’t remember saying those things because anybody can put anything anywhere. Sometimes you can see your picture which is not even yours but it is your picture.
Eric Opoku: Now on the same page, COP Mensah with the aid of your solicitors you have accepted the statement that is attributed to you as the last statement down there. Page five. The last statement. You have accepted that one.
And that statement reads, they thought because we were also fighting the position that is why we are destroying him but when he started arresting party people that is when they saw that hmm we said we told you but you did not listen, sitting down, watching, you all watch and go to opposition. You have accepted this one as your statement is that not correct?
COP Mensah: Yes, I said it.
Eric Opoku: So you are advising the NPP then? Is it not advice to the NPP?
COP Mensah:I was advising Bugri Naabu
Eric Opoku: Okay. You all wach and go to opposition, was that to Bugri Naabu alone or his party let’s be candid.
COPMensah: Mr. Chairman, I was talking to Bugri Naabu
Eric Opoku: And then when you go up the same page, speaker two, mede3 I have been NPP member since long time and now you are saying that we should omit the NPP and insert is it UP? No…You have indicated something I want to understand.
COP Mensah: Mr. Chair, I think this issue came up yesterday and I said same thing, that UP.
James Agalga: Eric, let’s refresh commissioner’s memory, what you said yesterday is no record. You said you were born into the UP tradition but that is different from what is captured here. So, what hon. Opoku wants you to do is to speak to what is captured on page five. You tried to make an insertion which suggests that we should substitute NPP with UP that is very different from what you told the committee yesterday about UP. You wanted the committee to understand that you were born into the UP tradition. And so, by implication you are a UP tradition member but here, you were very emphatic about NPP. So you see the substitution wouldn’t work.
COP Mensah: Mr. Chair that is why I said…that is not the only thing I wrote there if you look I said, I don’t remember making that statement, Yes.
Eric Opoku: Yesterday, this was the question I posed to you and I have your answer here. You have been an NPP member long time before you joined the service is that correct? And this was your answer; Mr. Chairman, my family has been with the UP tradition since I was born and we have remained there until now, that was the answer you gave yesterday.
COP Mensah: Yes Mr. Chairman, and I would not run away from that. That is true.
Eric Opoku: That is right. So on page five you are saying we should remove NPP and insert UP and again you are saying you don’t remember so which one do you want us to take? Because you could have simply said I don’t remember making this statement but you are also making indication that you wanted us to remove NPP and insert UP. So, my understanding is that probably is we remove NPP and put in UP, probably that will be your statement.
COP Mensah:Mr. Chairman, this script we never knew you were going to ask us to make something on it and bring it to you. Some of the things I noted it before Mr. Chairman said we should make things…this Up tradition that I put there, I put there yesterday myself it is not meant for…. So please take that one out.
Eric Opoku: No, he is saying that was done yesterday.
James Agalga: All he is trying to say is that he wrote certain things on the document on the time he didn’t know we will be asking him to give indications as to which portion of the transcripts he accepts or rejects and therefore when he wrote UP it was just note that. Is that not what you said?
Atta Akyea: No, please your notes on the transcribed document is not what he is talking about. It is the verbatim reporting of what transpired yesterday and that is what he is making reference to. Not your notes, your handwritten that you said UP.
Counsel: A little correction…
Atta Akyea: Yes.
Counsel: The page you referred us to, that is page five, there is an insertion here by him. That is what you referred us to. Yes.
Eric Opoku: Now we are still on page five of the verbatim reporting. In the first statement, he will not look at this Assin North, he has picked every police officer to Assin North now, including all the big men.
They’ve all gone to Assin North, what are they going to do? Policemen will be there. How do we? We shouldn’t make that mistake at all. This one by our arrangement is like you have confirmed that this is your statement. Is that correct?
COP Mensah: Yes, I said it.
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‘Leaked IGP Tape’ -How Atta Akyea’s committee grilled COP Mensah Pt. 2
