Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has strongly denied circulating allegations that he played any role in the withdrawal of the Inspector General of Police’s Special Operations Team from the Tamale Metropolis.
In a statement issued by the Haruna Institute on his behalf, the lawmaker described the claims as completely baseless and accused certain bloggers and individuals of deliberately attempting to damage his reputation.
The institute acknowledged the valuable work carried out by the police unit, popularly known as the “Black Maria,” in reducing criminal activities and improving public safety in Tamale and surrounding areas.
“The Haruna Institute wishes to address, with the utmost seriousness, recent developments regarding the withdrawal of the IGP’s Special Operations Team from the Tamale Metropolis… We acknowledge the dedication and professionalism with which this unit has served, contributing significantly to the reduction of criminal activities and the enhancement of public safety in our community,” the statement read.
It expressed deep concern over efforts to falsely link the decision to Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.
“It has come to our attention that certain unscrupulous individuals and bloggers have sought to falsely attribute this withdrawal to the Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South,” the statement noted. “Such claims are not only baseless but represent a deliberate and orchestrated attempt to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.”
The institute made it clear that the Education Minister holds no authority or influence over police operations or the Inspector General of Police.
“We wish to state, categorically and for the record, that the Hon. Haruna Iddrisu holds no advisory role to the Inspector General of Police, nor is he a member of the Police Council,” it said. “He is therefore not clothed with any authority, statutory or otherwise, to direct or influence the IGP in the execution of his official duties.”
The statement demanded an immediate retraction from those spreading the allegations.
“The Haruna Institute will not relent in its pursuit of accountability; we hereby demand an immediate retraction of the said publications by the individuals and platforms involved,” it declared.
It warned that failure to retract could lead to legal consequences.
“Should these defamatory statements persist, we shall explore all available legal avenues, including the filing of a civil suit, to protect the integrity and reputation of the Hon. Member of Parliament,” the institute added.
The Ghana Police Service has not yet issued an official explanation for the withdrawal of the Special Operations Team from Tamale, though youth groups in the city staged protests on Thursday night demanding its reinstatement due to concerns over rising drug-related crimes.
