Police leaked audio: taking refuge in doctored tape?

A sudden hysteria about doctored audio tapes appears to give witnesses the feeling that the handle in the turbulence is found. This refers to the conduct of witnesses who have been appearing before the parliamentary ad-hoc committee investigating a secretly recorded conversation. The tape bears a conspiratorial audio of some senior police officers and a politician targeting the Inspector General of Police, IGP.

Amidst the twists and turns, another surprise surfaced which could potentially complicate or make the case a straightforward one. It was the confession that translated into serious allegations against the IGP. It said the alleged ”villains” fell into a trap allegedly set by the IGP himself. The politician’s confession then turned eyeballs on the IGP pulling him up to star witness in the case.

It was a major pushback on the IGP who looked good without a word after a second video appeared to invalidate submissions by the alleged schemers. A crossfire of accusations pointing to insidious machinations by either side of the controversy, then made it imperative to call the IGP to speak. Despite his dovish demeanor, the IGP condemned their claims. That was not enough to leave anybody off the hook as open-ended questions remained.

The consequences flung to their faces, the case has developed into a convergence of suspicions that the leaked secret tape was doctored. The Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry has publicly admitted that the first audio that went viral was ”edited, truncated and incomplete,” with a cautious approach to a more detailed version.

Lawyers of the litigants are latching onto the doctored tape claims, saying it only strengthens their cases and joined by their clients, have started hoisting trump cards. The leap towards the leeway in this murky saga unprecendented in the history of the Ghana Police Service, might hit a wall in the Chairman of the Committee who considers the new tape unleashed on them as a good opportunity to control the unsteady gait in proceedings.