REPUBLIC vs. INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE; EX PARTE WOOD [1973]DLHC2262

Date	1973-04-12
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1973]DLHC2262

EDUSEI J.

W. A. H. AMARTEIFIO FOR THE APPELLANT.

T. AHLIJAH SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1973]DLHC2262
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE; EX PARTE WOOD<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
SEKONDI]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1973]
2 GLR 113<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DATE:
12 APRIL 1973.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

W. A. H. AMARTEIFIO FOR THE APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

T. AHLIJAH, SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY, FOR THE
RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

EDUSEI J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF EDUSEI J.<o:p></o:p>This is
an application by Mr. K. A. Wood, an inspector grade II of the Ghana Police
Service, praying for an order to quash the decision which resulted in his
removal from the Ghana Police Service.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>His
counsel stated four grounds upon which he relied for this application but the
most important ground is set out in paragraph 3 (d) of his application as
follows: “That the proceedings are a nullity since the adjudicating officer,
the said I. Kwakye, Esq., had no jurisdiction to sit over the matter.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 18
September 1972 the Western Regional Police Disciplinary Board by a letter No.
WRB/FF.KAW/46 appointed Mr. Isaac Kwakye, Superintendent of Police, as the
inquiring officer and indicated in that same letter the charges to be preferred
against Inspector K. A. Wood. Acting on this letter, Mr. Isaac Kwakye wrote
letter No.TD/FF/KAW/72 dated 21 September 1972 to Inspector Wood, and the
opening sentence is relevant to this application. It stated: “I have to inform
you that I have been nominated by the Sekondi Divisional Disciplinary Board to
hold service inquiry into the undermentioned charges preferred against you 1⁄4”
and then followed the three charges of alleged misconduct which need not be set
out in extenso.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
proceedings which have been attached to the instant application clearly show
that the said Mr. Kwakye conducted the inquiry into the charges preferred
against Inspector Wood and later submitted his report to the Western Regional
Disciplinary Board who recommended to the Inspector-General of Police a
reduction in rank to general sergeant. The Inspector-General of Police by his
letter No. PNC.1404/190 dated 8 December 1972, and acting in accordance with
section 19 (2) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), imposed on Inspector
Wood a sentence of removal from the service with full retiring benefits.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
important point that falls for determination in this application is whether Mr.
Isaac Kwakye, the inquiring officer, who was nominated by the Western Regional
Disciplinary Board, was clothed with jurisdiction to conduct the inquiry. It
has been urged on behalf of the applicant that there are three categories of
disciplinary authorities set out in regulation 3 of the Police Service
(Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations 1971 (L.I. 688), and they are:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(a) the Central Board,<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(b) a Regional Board and<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(c) all the superior police
officers.<o:p></o:p>