Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews on Friday, March 14, he noted that while leadership changes in the police service are not new, the level of celebration this time is unusual and raises questions about the previous leader.

“This is the first time I have seen such a thing in the police service. There have been changes of IGPs anytime a new government comes. When Nana Akufo-Addo came, we had the first IGP, we had the second one, and Dampare became the third one. There were changes, but nobody jubilated, nobody did anything at the National Headquarters,” he stated.

COP Mensah questioned why officers at the National Headquarters and various police stations were openly celebrating the transition, suggesting that their reactions may reflect dissatisfaction with the previous leadership.

“When Akufo-Addo took over, the then IGP was retired, but nobody jubilated. Why are the police jubilating now? That should tell you what they were going through during his period.

When Mr Oppong Boadu was changed and Dampare was appointed, nobody jubilated. Why is it that police officers are jubilating at the National Headquarters and all the police stations? That should tell you something,” he said.

He expressed his hope saying that the new IGP would bring positive reforms. “I am not happy with the jubilation, but I am happy with the change in leadership because now we are going to have a leader who will listen and who will do the right thing,” he said.

The retired COP was once accused of undermining the immediate past IGP to the point that a parliamentary committee was set up to probe an alleged plot by him and others to get Dampare out of office.

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According to him, former President John Mahama’s request for a grace period to settle down if he assumes the presidency after winning the December 7 general elections means he lacks a concrete policy to address the country’s economic challenges.

In an interview with JoyNews’ Nana Boakye Yiadom, the retired COP, who is vying for the Bekwai constituency parliamentary seat on the NPP ticket said the “honeymoon” period requested by Mr Mahama reflects a lack of commitment to advancing the country’s development.

He, therefore, questioned Mr. Mahama’s intention behind seeking a ‘honeymoon’ period, emphasising that in case he is granted a two-year grace period, he would have only two years to govern the country, with the subsequent year being an election year.

“We are not ready for a honeymoon, we are not ready. The country is not ready for a honeymoon. We are moving on,” he asserted.

COP Mensah emphasised that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for the 2024 general elections is not prepared to restore the country to its previous state.

He contended that, Mr Mahama’s call for a ‘honeymoon’ indicates a lack of substantive policies and readiness.

“Honeymoon means he’s not ready. He doesn’t have any policy. How can we give you a honeymoon when we know that people are suffering? People are suffering, and you want to get a honeymoon. He doesn’t have anything good for this country; he’s not ready,” he stressed.

He urged Ghanaians to grant the ruling New Patriotic Party the opportunity to continue the country’s development, warning that a mistake of going back could lead to a profound setback.

COP Mensah’s remarks follow Mr. Mahama’s plea to Ghanaians, especially trade and labour groups to grant the next NDC government a grace period if he were to regain power.

This request was made in response to increased demands for improved conditions of service from these groups.

The former President who made this request while addressing attendees at a ‘Campus Connect’ event in Hohoe stressed the importance of allowing time to revive the economy before tackling specific demands.

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Mr Mensah has said he has not seen any report neither has his lawyers been informed about any report.

He stated that, there are due processes the committee must follow with regards to the submission and publication of the report.

“Maybe this is propaganda because if there is going to be any report, the committee is supposed to submit it to parliament and the Speaker who called for the probe. We are talking about a leaked report so who leaked it and what is the motive behind it? Is the report signed by the committee?” he quizzed in an interview on Accra-based TV3.

The draft report allegedly vindicates the IGP and indicts the three police officers named in the leaked tape saga.

But the retired police officer has questioned, “What was the IGP cleared off? Was the committee tasked to investigate the tape or the IGP?”

If the leaked draft is anything to go by, Mr Mensah who is contesting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries in the Bekwai constituency said he suspects IGP Dampare.

He alleged that, IGP Dampare may have purposely leaked the draft report to sabotage his political career but that will not work.

“I am in my constituency going about my campaign smoothly. This will never affect my chances because my people know me and know what I can and can’t do. I never did anything wrong,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Parliamentary ad hoc committee, Samuel Atta Akyea, has dismissed the report, stating they are yet to make any recommendation on the case.

He has therefore urged the public to disregard the content of the said leaked draft report.

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Following the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Owusu-Osei’s decision not to seek re-election in the upcoming NPP primaries, it has opened the floodgates for four persons to contest in the race.

Despite the contest expected to be stiff, COP George Alex Mensah told Citi News he is targeting to secure 60 percent of the votes in the upcoming primaries.

“I am going to bring unity to the party because we have to break the 8, and it is only unity that will help us break the 8, and that is what I am going to do. I am going to do everything that I have to do to bring improvement to the community.”

“With the percent that I am going to get, it should be more than 60 percent,” he added.

The other contenders in the race, Raph Poku-Adusei, Kingsley Opoku Agyemang, and Henry Opoku-Ware, are also optimistic about winning the primaries.

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