Private Legal practitioner Kwaku Paintsil, has noted that the Ghana Police Service's decision to reverse the interdiction of three senior officers is a significant embarrassment for the security agency.

The three; Commissioner of Police (COP) George Alex Mensah, Superintendent Emmanuel Eric Gyebi and Superintendent George Lysander Asare were interdicted due to their connection with an audio tape that reveals plans to oust the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare.

He asserts that the Service should never have interdicted these officers initially, especially considering the alleged leaked recording of a plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), which is currently under parliamentary investigation.

In an interview with JoyNews, the lawyer emphasized that such action should have been taken only after the Committee had concluded its investigations. He cast aspersions on the counsel the IGP receives.

“Even though in my honest view, they now claim to have withdrawn the interdiction, it is giving the public an idea of what they want to do and even what I am hearing is worse, that they are talking about a disciplinary hearing.

“That is a presumption that what they have heard so far suggests or is an indication that something wrong has taken place but that is not proper because Parliament has not finished its inquiry, they have not come out with their findings and facts and recommendations or whatever it is. So where did they fall on the view that there is evidence or a case to go for disciplinary hearing and if it is so, what are they waiting for?

“So I am thinking that the way they are going about this is very embarrassing and what it means is that somebody is not advising the IGP or their legal department is not doing a good work,” he added.

In a statement dated September 7, the police indicated that the decision to suspend the interdiction, which was to make way for disciplinary proceedings in line with Police Service regulations, was to ensure it does not affect the ongoing probe by parliament.

As such, the Service noted that it would commence disciplinary proceedings into the officers’ conduct upon the completion of the parliamentary probe.

“Following the interdiction of COP/Mr George Alex Mensah, Supt/Mr Emmanuel Eric Gyebi and Supt/Mr George Lysander Asare in connection with the leaked audio tape, the Police Administration would commence disciplinary proceedings into their conduct upon completion of the ongoing probe by Parliament.”

“In order not to prejudice the ongoing probe, the Police administration has suspended their interdiction,” the statement signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Frace Ansah-Akrofi read.

But a day later, the Police rescinded their decision.