Vice Chairman of the ad-hoc parliamentary committee tasked with investigating the leaked tape allegedly involving a plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Agalga has suggested that the committee may extend an invitation to the IGP himself to assist in the ongoing inquiry.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Friday, James Agalga shed light on the evolving complexities of the case.
Initially, Bugri Naabu, former National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), had claimed responsibility for the audio recording. However, recent revelations by COP Alex Mensah, a high-ranking police officer central to the investigation, have introduced new dimensions to the controversy.
Agalga stated, “Bugri Naabu took responsibility for recording the tape. But today, COP Alex Mensah gave the whole matter another twist. He is now alleging that the Inspector General of Police is the one who engineered the recording of the conversation. That is a very serious allegation to make. In all fairness to the IGP, the committee may have to invite him to assist in the investigation to determine if he actually played a role in the recording. So that when it turns out that, yes, indeed, he was involved in having the conversation recorded, then he could also help the committee with the authentication. What the committee is interested in is whether the tape in question is authentic or not.”
He continued, “Bugri Naabu has already taken the lead by saying that he did the recording. Today you heard Alex Mensah say that aspects of the tape are not genuine. He admitted and took responsibility for some aspects of it. So I think that it’s only fair that before we make any conclusive statements as a committee, especially as the IGP’s name has been mentioned, in line with natural justice, we should hear from him. But that is my personal view for now.”
During the committee hearing held on September 1, 2023, COP Alex Mensah, who is currently on leave pending his retirement from the Ghana Police Service, asserted that the current audio had been heavily edited.
He went on to claim, “My intel suggests that what was used to tape the conversation was done by the current IGP. He sent some people to do it and after which he went for it. And so the tape, from my intel, is with the IGP, and he caused it to be leaked. And so if this committee wants the tape, then it should contact the IGP for it.”