Bagbin Issues Gag Order: MPs Directed to Refrain from Publicly Commenting on IGP Leaked Tape Report

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has issued a gag order barring all Members of Parliament from publicly commenting on the IGP leaked tape report.

This directive comes amid disagreements among committee members over the final report.

During deliberations on the report during Thursday’s parliamentary proceedings, the Speaker instructed the parliamentary ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged plot to remove Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare to reconvene and conclude their inquiry.

“It is very clear that the committee has not completed the job… I direct that further deliberation of this matter is suspended and the committee is called upon to go back to further consider this matter,” Speaker Bagbin said.

The Speaker highlighted that the ongoing dispute between Chairman Samuel Atta Akyea and Vice Chairman James Algalga of the investigative committee has created an unproductive environment, hindering the House’s ability to make an informed decision.

To maintain decorum and facilitate a more productive resolution, the Speaker issued the gag order, directing all Members of Parliament to refrain from publicly commenting on the matter until further notice.

In presenting the report, Mr Agalga indicated that “the work of the committee was consensual or unanimous in the sense that the Chairman did not have an original vote and therefore this report is unanimous. It’s the unanimous verdict of the members who had original voting rights. So the chairman’s refusal to sign because it is visible on the report that he did not sign this report but that is inconsequential because this is a unanimous verdict.”

But Chairman Samuel Atta Akyea clarified that the committee’s report could not be comprehensive without investigating the serious allegations of extrajudicial killings levelled against the Inspector General of Police (IGP). He emphasized the necessity of examining all aspects of the matter to ensure a thorough and impartial inquiry.

“…Three of the members said the issue of investigating the extrajudicial killing is inconsequential to them then what are we sitting there for?” he quizzed.

The Committee’s report cited all three officers heard on the tape; COP George Alex Mensah, Superintendent Lysander Asare and Superintendent Gyebi, for professional misconduct, and went ahead to refer two of them to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for lying to the committee when they appeared before them.

Source:newsalertgh.com