IGP has done no wrong - Police Council

Government on Friday accepted recommendations by the Police Council that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Patrick Kwateng Acheampong had not done anything to show that he acted wrongly in his capacity to warrant any sanctions. A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of the Interior said: "Government has carefully considered the Committee's (Georgina Wood) Report and the advice of the Police Service Council and has decided to accept the recommendations of the Council as summarised." "Council has consequently 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 the IGP's friendship with Alhaji Issah Abass, an alleged drug baron, the statement said, while the Council found as appropriate the Committees admonition that the IGP should be careful about people he associated with, members were of the opinion that there was no evidence that the IGP knew that Alhaji Issah Abass was a drug dealer and that it was possible for anyone to have friends engaged in criminal activity without the person knowing. "Members felt that the IGP had not associated himself with the man in a manner to bring his office into disrepute," it said. On Ms. Grace Asibi's visit to the IGP's house, the Police Council said it was of the opinion that an IGP, as head of the Ghana Police Service and supervisor of police officers in the country, should not prevent people from coming to him since every caller was said to be a potential ally or informant. "The IGP's advice to Ms Asibi that she could go to court through a lawyer was probably the most classic response from a seasoned officer and the Council was therefore of the view that the IGP did not err in that regard." The statement said the Police Council advised against jumping to conclusion, without evidence that the IGP was at fault since it reflected seriously not only on the personality of the incumbent IGP but also on the integrity of the Ghana Police Service as a whole. The Georgina Wood Committee investigated two drug-related cases, which were the missing 76 parcels of cocaine in board a ship and alleged bribery of senior police officers in the 588 kilogramme cocaine at East Legon. Although the Committee found no adverse findings against the IGP his conduct was referred to the government. The Committee said while the Inspector-General of Police had every right to make friends, it found that his status required that he chose his friends with care in order not to compromise the high office of the IGP. The Committee said it found that to grant audience to Grace Asibi whose boyfriend was under investigation for such a serious offence and direct her on the options open to her had the tendency of leading to wrong perceptions and bringing the high office of the IGP and of the Ghana Police Service into disrepute. The government subsequently referred the findings to the Police Service Council with its supporting transcripts for study, discussion and advice.GNA