The allegations that the government intends to remove Dr. George Akuffo Dampare as Inspector General of Police have been denounced by Interior Minister Ambrose Dery.
He asserts that, contrary to some reports, neither the government nor the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are attempting to remove the IGP.
His claim is in response to a purportedly leaked secret tape alleging that the governing party planned to remove the IGP as part of a larger scheme to rig the 2024 election.
Ambrose Dery stated that the IGP has been exceptional in the performance of his duties and that there are no attempts to remove him from office in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM.
“I think that you should ignore it with the contempt that it deserves. There is no plot to remove anybody, I don’t know about anything. As far as I am concerned, he is doing a job,” the Interior Minister stated.
He gave a negative response when asked if his office is interested in looking into the claim.
“I am not sure I want to get involved in any investigation except that they relate to crime, then we will do that. But I think that so far we are doing well,” he said.
The Interior Minister claims that the current administration won’t interfere with the national elections in 2024.
The Police Commissioner, who is rumored to be retiring, is heard telling the politician that the NPP should forget about winning the next general elections if the current IGP stays in office in the leaked audio, which was shared by GHone TV on its Twitter page.
In order to persuade the politician, Commissioner Mensa cited the strict security measures the IGP put in place during the recent Assin North by-election. He promised to take a similar or even more stringent approach, which might prevent the NPP from stealing the 2024 election.
“This IGP won’t help us. He won’t, he wants everything to be done fairly and we don’t win elections that way. If we don’t remove him, we can’t break the 8, in politics we need machinations and this IGP won’t allow that,” Commissioner Mensa said in the leaked audio.
He continued by lamenting the failure of his efforts to persuade President Akufo-Addo to fire IGP Dr. Dampare.