A security Analyst, Anthony Acquaye, has urged the 7-member committee set up by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to probe an alleged leaked tape of some senior police officers in the Ghana Police and top brass of the NPP government to oust Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akufo Dampare, to call for an immediate Amendment of a constitutional article, granting the President power to appoint the IGP.
Constituting seven (7)-member special bipartisan committee to investigate the alleged IGP leaked tape makes both sides of the political domain represented.
However, generally, the committee delays or prolongs its work due to the internal regulations of parliament.
He argued that this cripples the extent to which the committee can go for more revelations into the issue of strict and strong policy recommendations for reforms as compared to the Independent Commission, which explores the external regulations for an immediate, adequate, and compact result.
Nevertheless, he indicated that for the speaker of parliament to concede and direct the establishment of the bipartisan committee beyond the defense and interior committees, it is highly recommended.
Since this is an issue that seriously borders on the security, peace, and stability of the nation, it is imperative to state that, for the effectiveness of the committee to achieve its mandate, the members selected to constitute the committee matter most, and so there is a need to consider people with a critical analytical mindset who are more enlightened on matters of security and conflict resolution.
He added that whoever chairs the committee must not be too rigid in his or her leadership style, which can lead to authority defense, or too soft to result in one person dominating the process. The timeline for the committee to submit its report to parliament should not be tempered in any form to avoid a prolonged decision on the matter.
The security analyst further said that the committee, in its quest to establish the tape’s authenticity, can collaborate with other forensic intelligence departments from the Armed Forces or the Police Service.
More so, the committee must also open its doors for more intelligence gathering to help them in their decision-making for a strong report outcome.
Inasmuch as the terms of reference set are purposeful and achievable, it is also necessary to plead with the committee to indicate in its recommendations that the power of the president to appoint the Inspector General of Police (IGP) be amended with the adoption of a new mechanism for appointing the IGP.
This is because, for so many years, the perception by the public that before an officer who has gone through the ranks to become Commissioner of Police will be appointed as IGP, he or she must be affiliated with a political party has been confirmed by the leaked audio, if its authenticity is proving to be true.
