Hot!
Leaked tape on IGP: My interest was to protect NPP – Bugri Naabu
A former Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu, says his decision to record the conversation about a proposed plot to remove the Inspector General of Police from office, was to safeguard the interest of the party.
Mr Naabu, who confirmed the authenticity of the secret tape, indicated that his plan was to forward the same to President Akufo-Addo regarding the officers’ concerns over the party’s fate with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare at the helm.
“I think that was my main interest, to protect the party,” he said on Monday, August 28.
He made this statement when he appeared before the Committee set up to probe the tape, where he also mentioned the names of the other persons who were in the meeting.
According to him, the sensitive nature of the issue warranted that he briefed the President in a detailed manner, hence his decision to secure a recording gadget for the activity.
“The reason for recording this tape is that they are coming to tell me to go and tell the President something that they know what they are saying, and it is either I don’t go to tell the President and then I and my party suffer for it, and if I also go to talk to the President, it is good to tell him the right thing and since I cannot keep everything they were telling me at that point, it was very good to record, and I know the President that if I go and tell him something, and it turns not to be true, next time he won’t give me respect,” he said.
This comes weeks after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin tasked a seven-member committee to probe the leaked audio recording proposing the clandestine removal of the IGP from office.
The conversation on the recording suggests solicitations by an unnamed influence-peddling policeman suggesting that the current Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare be ousted from office so that 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 governing 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 fairly.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
