Member of Parliament for the Bekwai Constituency, Joseph Osei-Owusu, also known as Joe Wise, has officially endorsed retired Commissioner of Police (COP) George Alex Mensah as his successor.
In a viral video, Joe Wise, during a meeting with New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates, commended the courage of COP Mensah.
Months earlier, COP Mensah had been the focus of a parliamentary investigation into a leaked tape in which some officers and a politician were allegedly plotting the removal of the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, from office.
“If COP today has announced his intention to contest our party primaries, he is no stranger…” he stated.
According to the MP, who currently serves as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, COP Mensah not only displayed courage during his appearance at the committee’s sitting but also refuted the various allegations made against the current IGP in the leaked tape.
“So, when you watched on TV how he answered the questions; the courage and the truthfulness that unfolded, a lot of people including the committee members kept calling me that Joe your man is heavy, he is courageous.
“Today, by the grace of God, we have concluded the committee’s report, those who brought the issue are afraid and do not want the report to be brought out because of his truthfulness, the testimony he gave proved that everything he said was the truth,” he said.
In the leaked tape, COP Asare, along with two other senior officers, Superintendent George Lysander Asare and Superintendent Emmanuel Gyabi, were heard seeking the support of former New Patriotic Party Regional Chairman Bugri Naabu for the removal of Dr. Dampare.
In the recording, the officers accused Dr. Dampare of incompetence and alleged that he was a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress, suggesting that his presence in office posed a threat to the NPP’s ability to retain power.
The officers also confessed to being NPP members on the tape.