IGP Stays - Interior Minister

THE government ended speculation over the fate of the Inspector-General of Police yesterday. He is to keep his position.

A press release issued in Accra yesterday and signed by Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, the sector Minister said the government has accepted the recommendation of the Police Council not to apply sanctions against the IGP, Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong in relation to comments in the report of the Justice Georgina Wood Committee which probed the recent cocaine scandal.

The council has advised government that in their opinion the IGP has not done anything to show that he acted wrongly or was at fault and, therefore, is unable to recommend the application of any sanctions to the IGP.”

On September 22, the Ministry of the Interior published the report of the committee which investigated missing parcels of cocaine from the M.V. Benjamin vessel at the Tema Port and the events that led to the seizure of 588 kilogrammes of cocaine from a house at East Legon, Accra

The Minister then indicated that although there were no adverse findings or recommendations against the IGP, the Ministry decided to refer to government, comments contained in the report about the police boss.

The statement said “government has carefully considered the committee’s report and the advice to the Police Service council and has decided to accept the recommendations of the council.”

It said the council has advised that “jumping into conclusion, without evidence that the IGP is at fault reflects seriously not only on the personality of the incumbent IGP but also on the integrity of the Ghana Police Service as a whole.”

“For this reason, a comment like that should only be made when adequate grounds have been established.”