In a significant legal and disciplinary development within the Ghana Police Service, Sergeant David Ojeyim has filed a lawsuit at the High Court seeking an Order of Judicial Review. In his sworn testimony, Sgt Ojeyim alleges that he and ten other officers were instructed by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to defy administrative orders.
According to the court documents, the crux of the issue began when Sgt Ojeyim, a member of the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), was recruited along with 11 others by ASP Alhaji Jalil Bawa from the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) for an “Intelligence Gathering” operation named “Operation D-Day”. This operation was purportedly authorized by Mr. Yohuno, despite the fact that Bawa was not in a position of authority over PID members.
The controversy escalated when Sgt Ojeyim and his colleagues received transfer signals from the Police Administration, ordering their relocation out of Accra. Sgt Ojeyim claims in Paragraph 18 of his affidavit that upon informing Mr. Yohuno about the transfer, they were instructed not to comply, with the Deputy IGP describing the transfer as “dubious and without any justification”. They were also directed to record this in the station diary, an order they followed.
This directive from a high-ranking officer like Yohuno, if true, raises profound questions about the command structure and discipline within the Ghana Police Service. Mutiny, or the refusal to obey lawful orders, is considered one of the gravest offenses in military and police hierarchies, potentially undermining the “Command and Control” system that is vital for security operations.
The officers involved in the alleged defiance have been interdicted pending a service inquiry. However, with the matter now before the High Court, any disciplinary action is on hold until the judicial review process concludes.
The outcome for Deputy IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno remains uncertain. If Sgt Ojeyim’s testimony is upheld in court, it could lead to significant repercussions for Yohuno, possibly affecting his career and the operational integrity of the police service. This case illuminates potential fissures in the chain of command and could prompt a broader review of how directives are issued and followed within the service.