Deputy IGP Yohuno directed us to disobey orders - Police Sergeant claims in court documents

A sergeant of the Ghana Police Service has claimed in a sworn court document that the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, directed him and 10 other policemen to defy orders issued by the Police administration.

Sgt David Ojeyim, in a lawsuit filed at the High Court for an Order of Judicial Review, alleged that his refusal to obey a Police Signal (Directive) was made under the direct instruction of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police. He stated in paragraph 18 of his sworn testimony filed at the High Court:

Since the team enlisted for the assignment was acting under the direction and instruction of the Deputy IGP, we informed him on 2 October 2024 about the transfer signal, whereupon he directed us not to comply with it. He further directed us to make an entry into the station diary, which we complied with.

Sgt Ojeyim, a member of the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), claims in his deposition before the court that he and 11 others were recruited by one ASP Alhaji Jalil Bawa, an officer of the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD), on the instructions of Mr Yohuno for “Intelligence Gathering” under an initiative they referred to as “Operation D-Day”. Even though ASP Jalil Bawa of the MTTD is not a member of the PID and does not have the authority to instruct or recruit Sgt Ojeyim and the others, they nevertheless followed his instructions.

While operationalising the Yohuno taskforce, including setting up a WhatsApp group dubbed “Operation D-Day”, Sgt Ojeyim received instructions from the Police Administration that he, along with several members of the team, had been transferred out of Accra. At this point, Ojeyim states:

Since the team enlisted for the assignment was acting under the direction and instruction of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, we informed him on 2 October 2024 about the transfer signal, whereupon he directed us not to comply with it, as it was dubious and without justification.

Scan 12 Nov 24 15·43·59 (1) by Andreas Kamasah on Scribd

In a security institution where the refusal to obey instructions is considered mutiny, the claim that the second most senior officer of the service, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, directed junior officers to act in such a manner raises serious concerns about discipline within the service. Mutiny is the most severe disciplinary offence in security services. The entire system of security relies on “Command and Control”; if the leadership is unable to control the juniors, it signifies a major problem. When those juniors claim in sworn statements that the DIGP directed them to disobey orders, it becomes evident that there is a breakdown in discipline within the ranks.

The officers who refused the transfer order have since been interdicted pending a service inquiry. However, with the lawsuit for Judicial Review now filed at the High Court, any Police disciplinary action will have to await the conclusion of the court process.

It remains unclear what the eventual outcome will be for Deputy IGP Christian Yohuno once the testimony is formally adopted in court.

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