Hot!
Leaked tape has been a blessing for me, I have no regret – COP Alex Mensah
Retired Commissioner of Police, COP George Alex Mensah, has said that the leaked tape hatching a ploy to remove the Inspector General of Police, George Akufo-Dampare has been a blessing in disguise.
According to him, he has no regret playing a role in the conversation on the leaked tape.
Speaking to Evans Mensah on Joy News Channel, he said the situation has been a blessing for him, adding that but for the leaked tape the level of media mileage he had received wouldn’t have been the case.
“I have never regretted it, God has his own way of blessing people. Had it not been for this tape, maybe we wouldn’t have been here,” he told Evans Mensah.
He added “My name and my picture wouldn’t have been where it is circulating now. Now if you go to my constituency everybody knows me, everybody is looking for me. My friends who I have not heard from in years are calling me from the USA, UK and everywhere.”
According to the retired Police Officer, God has his own way of raising people, “sometimes you’ll not understand, but at the end of the day, you’ll understand.”
He further stressed that the leaked tape has made the public aware that things are not well with the Ghana Police Service.
According to him, even though he believes he will be known within some quarters as the COP who wanted the removal of the IGP, a section of the society will also know him as the COP who saved the Ghana Police Service.
Commissioner of Police (COP) George Alex Mensah, retired from the Police Service on Sunday 17 September 2023, after attaining the compulsory retirement age of sixty (60) as enshrined in the laws of the country.
In his over 30 years of service in the police, he served in various positions and until when he proceeded on leave pending retirement, he was the director general in charge of all Police operations nationwide.
Within the last few weeks, the now-retired police commissioner became a household in Ghana following a leaked voice recording in which he is allegedly heard discussing the work of the current Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare and the need to remove him from office.
The leaked audio recording is now the subject of investigation by a parliamentary adhoc committee chaired by Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea.
COP George Alex Mensah and other police officers have already appeared before the committee to give their testimonies about the leaked tape
Hot!
ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
