A Former Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu, has confirmed the secret tape on which some persons were heard plotting the removal of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akufo Dampare.
Mr Naabu who is also the Paramount Chief of Namong Traditional Area in the North East Region, said he masterminded the recording of the conversation for the benefit of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for him to know some of the concerns and discussions within the corridors of the police service and to protect the electoral fortunes of the NPP.
“I recorded the tape myself. The truth of the matter is that the tape is correct. That is my voice,” Bugri Naabu told the seven-member special parliamentary committee probing the alleged plot to remove the IGP in Accra yesterday.
He clarified that: “Mr Chairman, I didn’t do the recording myself. I requested someone who knows how to do the recording to come and do it for me.”
He identified the voices on the tape as Commander Asare, COP Mensah and Superintendent JB. They were heard plotting the removal of the IGP because he is NDC and should he remain in office, the NPP would lose the 2024 election.
Commander Asare, he said, was the architect behind the plot to remove the IGP, Commissioner Mensah, the candidate penciled to replace him and Superintendent JB as the person to go and see the President with him.
Bugri Naabu said though he had furnished the President with the recording after the tape became public, he did not know how the tape was leaked to the media.
The traditional ruler said he decided to record his engagements with the police insiders after they started dragging their feet when it was time to meet the President on the matter.
According to him, he had reached an agreement with the alleged police officers to go and make their claim to the President on a Sunday but JB failed to show up.
“On the day to go and see the President, I called JB and he said he was in the Eastern Region for a programme.
“I was so disappointed that I needed to get the information properly and the proper way was to look for a tape to tape all that we have been discussing so that I will know where to send it and when I send it to the President or anybody, they can’t deny or somebody to think that I am concocting things.”
He explained that he was approached by Commander Asare through one of his sons where he (Asare) revealed to him that IGP Dampare was in bed with the opposition party and if he remained in power, the NPP would not break the eight.
“I asked him why he said the IGP is NDC, how an NDC man becomes our IGP and why he waited for this long? I asked if he has informed the President.
“He (Asare) claimed to be a party member and has been in the party and that the message has reached the President but the President does not seem interested in changing the IGP.”
Initially, Bugri Naabu said he did not believe the claims but Commander Asare told him that the governing party would not win the Assin North by-election because the IGP would tighten things up, and same came to pass.
Asked if he thought an IGP could determine the outcome of an election, Bugri Naabu said the outcome of Assin North and how the security arrangements played out, which the governing party had issues with, gives credence to that assumption.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
