The Speaker of Parliament has announced Abuakwa South MP, Samuel Atta Akyea as the chairperson of a 7-member adhoc committee to probe the recently leaked controversial audio in which voices are heard clandestinely plotting the ouster of the Inspector General of Police.

The viral audio, which revealed a conspiracy by a senior police officer and a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare from office, resulted in a debate on the floor of Parliament with the Minority calling for a forensic audit.

Subsequently, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin proposed the Special Committee last Thursday, adding that the names of the members should be presented to him within one week.

Making the list public during Tuesday’s sitting, Mr. Bagbin said the committee is to submit its report by September 10.

"We are falling on the committee to do a thorough job and to report when we return before the end of September," he added.

The members of the committee are MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Boamah; Madam Ophelia Mensah Hayford, MP for Mfantsiman Constituency; Eric Opoku who is the MP for Asunafo South Constituency; and Peter Lanchene Toobu, MP for Wa West.

Also, the MP for Builsa North, James Agalga will act as Vice Chair for the Committee.

The team will also receive technical assistance from lawyer and human rights expert, Dr. Isaac Lartey Annan.

Background

The decision to form the committee comes in response to a demand by the Minority caucus of Parliament, who called for a thorough forensic audit to determine the authenticity and credibility of the leaked tape.

That was after Mr Armah-Buah had read an urgent statement on the alleged leaked tape on the floor of Parliament last Wednesday.

He said in the alleged leaked tape, there were purported senior members of the New Patriotic Party who had met a senior police officer to discuss the Assin North by-election, the role of the IGP and how the IGP did not help efforts to allow the NPP win the election.  

He said the attempt to remove the IGP and the discussion about the 2024 elections and what must be done to remove Dr Dampare for a new IGP sympathetic to the cause of the NPP to be installed to collude with the sitting government to get a certain outcome must concern Parliament.

“It boils down to the security of this country and it is important that this House wants to know the authenticity of that leaked tape,” he said.