Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery, has dismissed claims that the government seeks to remove from office, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, as part of its measures to retain power come 2024 elections.

His affirmation comes after a controversial leaked tape gone viral on social media hinted at plans to have the current IGP fired due to his incorruptible posture.

Per portions of the tape, some anonymous individuals expressed concern over the ability of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to break the 8 should Dr Akuffo Dampare remain in office.

“Alhaji, my only problem… this current IGP if we do a mistake and take him to the elections, it will not help us. It will not help us at all and I will not mind if the position is not given to me but that man is changed; because he will not help us, he will not help us at all… he won’t help the party at all.

“I know there are others who are also good for this position, if I don’t get and this man is changed and those people that we think they are our men get I (it is ok)t… Because we need to break this 8. That is important, we need to break the 8… Because I wouldn’t want doctor to become the flagbearer and then we lose the elections… ” a voice was heard saying.

But the Interior Minister has distanced the government from the statement's made in the leaked tape.

Interacting with the press in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Ambrose Dery indicated that government has been impressed with the work of the current Police administration.

General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare

According to the minister, the mantra 'law is a respecter of no persons' has been personified under the leadership of Dr George Akuffo Dampare.

"We have made a lot of progress. We have a police system that is professional that will arrest you whether you are an MP, Minister. They will arrest you even if you are a police officer," he said.

Mr Ambrose Dery further indicated that President Akufo-Addo remains committed to providing Ghanaians a security system that treats all equal before the law.

"What the President of this country made clear right back to the manifesto of the election before the first term was that there was a fear syndrome in Ghana and part of the fear syndrome was that people thought that we had a security system that was not across the board. It favoured a class of people in office who were too big to be touched and therefore the tenant of rule of law that we are equal before the law was not tenable."

"As far as I am concerned. We have made a lot of progress along that line," he added.

Dr George Akuffo Dampare was sworn in as the 23rd Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service in October 2021.

Meanwhile, Mr Ambrose Dery has stated emphatically that "this government is not going to tamper with 2024 elections." "Let me make it absolutely clear," he stressed.

Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey