Security and safety analyst Dr. Adam Bonaa expresses that he expected the loss experienced by retired Commissioner of Police George Alex Mensah in the recent parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party.
Dr. Bonaa states that COP Alex Mensah’s behaviour and words in the leaked tape, where he sought the removal of the current Inspector-General of the Ghana Police Service, indicate that he is not suitable for the role of a parliamentarian.
“I am not surprised by the results at all. I am not surprised in the sense that anyone who followed the leaked tape and the kind of things he said—every level-headed person—will shy away from electing such a person to represent him or her as a Member of Parliament.
“I want to believe that the people of Bekwai are wise enough to ensure that such a person does not represent them in the august house of parliament, so I am not surprised,” he stated.
Regarding COP Alex Mensah’s political future, Dr. Bonaa argues that the statements made by the senior officer during his appearance before the parliamentary committee investigating the leaked tape and its subsequent developments clearly suggest the conclusion of his political aspirations.
“Going by the leaked committee report and going by the sittings of the committee, obviously he confirmed that he said all the things that were captured on the leaked tape.
“He confirmed it was him and he also confirmed one way or another that he had been doing partisan politics while he was still in office. All these things and some lies that were told under oath, if you put these things together, you know that such a person is likely to be cited for perjury and you and I know that himself and the other senior officers who were captured conspiring to remove their IGP and destabilise this country is treasonable if the report indicts them,” he stated.
“I want to believe that if the report comes out and they are culpable, they are obviously going to face criminal charges once they are indicted.
“So as for his political career, I don’t want to go there. He couldn’t win a parliamentary primary. So, as far as I am concerned, his political career is over,” he said
COP George Alex Mensah lost the New Patriotic Party’s primary in the Bekwai constituency to his rival, Ralph Poku-Adusei. He garnered only 245 votes, while Poku-Adusei secured victory with 662 votes.
The other candidates, Henry Opoku Ware and Kingsley Opoku Agyemang, received 30 and 1 vote, respectively. The total votes cast were 938.
The defeat follows the leak of a tape featuring COP Alex Mensah, Superintendent George Asare, and Superintendent Emmanuel Gyebi seeking support from the NPP’s former Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, to remove IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
In their efforts, they portrayed themselves as dedicated NPP members committed to ensuring the party stays in power in December 2024 at any cost.