Former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bugri Naabu failed to appear at a hearing into the secret audio recording on which he allegedly features which discusses a clandestine plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

The discussion as captured on the tape, has been described as part of a conspiracy to rig the 2024 elections.

A Special 7-member parliamentary committee probing the alleged plot to remove the IGP began a public hearing on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

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Bugri Naabu was the first witness invited by the committee, however, he was absent.

His lawyers who were present pleaded that their client was unable to make it on the grounds of ill health.

But the Chairman of the committee, Samuel Atta Akyea did not buy into the excuse, insisting it is not a good enough excuse to be absent.

“We are supposed to investigate a tape and it seems to us that he [Bugri Naabu] has originated a tape or whatever it is like. We should excuse him for today on the grounds of ill health. Okay, fine. I want to say that that could be a reason why we will not do business today, but it is not a good enough reason. For the simple reason that unless it is a death-dealing malady then we can say for one reason or the other we can say fine. But we do not have any supporting document by way of a medical practitioner that this gentleman should be excused,” he said.

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https://myjoyonline.com/7-member-special-committee-to-probe-leaked-tape-plotting-ouster-of-igp/

Mr Atta Akyea urged other witnesses who would be called to appear before the committee not to use the excuses of illness to delay the committee’s work.

He also urged witnesses not to hold the committee to ransom or there would be consequences.

“We want all witnesses to respect the committee, especially our timetable. I do not believe it is right and proper, that when people are invited to appear before the committee, they reschedule the committee. It should be the other way around..,” he added.

The lawyers of Mr Naabu apologised to the committee over their client's absence.

They proposed the shortest possible time for consideration of the committee for Monday, the 28th of August, 2023.

“I would like to take the opportunity to apologise profusely on behalf of my client who is not here today. I wish to inform the committee that indeed, my client is a septuagenarian bedevilled with circumstances like this. And so it is not the intention of the client not to appear before the honourable committee.

The controversial audio is said to have leaked from a conversation between a top police officer and persons suspected to be affiliated with the ruling New Patriotic Party.

Read also: We will demand forensic audit of leaked tape plotting IGP’s replacement – Dr Ato Forson

Background

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin tasked the 7 member committee to probe the leaked audio recording proposing the clandestine ouster of the IGP.

The conversation on the recording suggests solicitations by an unnamed influence-peddling policeman seeking that the current Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare be ousted from office so someone more sympathetic to the cause of the ruling party replaces him.

The whole plot, per the conversation, is to get the police to support the rigging of Election 2024 in favour of the ruling NPP.

The Minority MPs have protested vehemently against the alleged plot, and have called for a forensic probe to fish out those engaged in the unhealthy conversation so they may face the law.

MPs on the Majority side have doubted the authenticity of the recording and have also denied any association with or desire to rig any election, saying the NPP will win the 2024 polls cleanly.