Kofi Bentil: “Let Bawumia win fairly; there is no need for a new deputy inspector general”

IMANI Africa Senior Vice President, Kofi Bentil, has called on the government to desist from taking decisions that could give the impression that the 2024 elections are being skewed to favour the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

According to him, while he supports Dr Bawumia, he said his victory must be achieved legitimately.

“Everyone knows where I stand, but if Dr Bawumia is going to win this election, let him do it in a fair and transparent manner,” he said.

His comments come after President Akufo-Addo appointed Commissioner of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, as the new Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations.

Since the news broke, a section of Ghanaians have questioned the motive, suggesting that it could be an alternative means to “clip the wings” of Inspector General Dr. George Dampare or eliminate him.

Talking about Joy FM News Archive Mr Bentil claimed the President made a mistake by appointing a Deputy Inspector General with a specific task, arguing that this gives credence to allegations in the leaked audio suggesting a plot to oust Dr Dampare for his uncompromising stance against rigging of the upcoming elections.

“The NPP as a group sufficiently absolved itself when it voted with the minority to accept the Commission’s report in Parliament and that showed that the NPP did not have a problem and did not have a problem with IGP Dampare and was not seeking to remove him,” he said on Saturday.

Nevertheless, Mr. Bentil expressed concern about the actions of certain government officials that, in his view, undermine this commitment.

“We now clearly have a situation where agents of this same government have gone and done something that is clearly not permitted by law, so that situation is happening again.”

“We are not stupid, people see what is happening and it does not help anyone,” Anyenini told Samson Lardy.

He warned that the actions of these agents could damage public perception.

“When there is a situation where the country is moving in a certain direction, what changes mindsets is dialogue. Dr. Bawumia is campaigning, so those agents who think this is a way to win elections are wrong and should stop him.”

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