REPUBLIC vs. INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE; EX PARTE ADDO [1974]DLHC2323

Date	1974-11-04
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1974]DLHC2323

CAPE COAST

G. K. ACQUAH FOR THE APPLICANT.

BADDOO SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1974]DLHC2323
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE; EX PARTE ADDO<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT, CAPE COAST]<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;[1974] 2 GLR 313<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
4 NOVEMBER 1974.<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">

G. K.
ACQUAH FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

BADDOO, 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">

EDWARD WIREDU J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF EDWARD WIREDU J.<o:p></o:p>The
applicant in this case is a general police constable class 2 in the Ghana
Police Service. On 15 February 1974, an information was preferred against him before
one Mr. Asare, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who conducted a service
inquiry into an allegation of drunkenness against him under the directions of
the Central Regional Disciplinary Board under the Police Service (Disciplinary
Proceedings) Regulations, 1971 (L.I. 688). The information given to the
applicant pursuant to the authority of the Central Regional Disciplinary Board
together with the particulars of the offence is in the following form:<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">“NO.
21619/GC/2 NELSON ADDO Service Inquiry I have to inform you that, the Central
Regional Disciplinary Board of the Ghana Police Service, has in accordance with
Police Service (Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations L.I. 688 of 1971,
nominated me to hold a service inquiry on you for the following charge:
Statement of Offence Drunkenness contrary to regulation 21 (3) (h) of [the
Police Service (Administration) Regulations, 1972] L.I. 765. Particulars of
Offence For that you on 8 August 1973 between the hours of 8.30 p.m. and 9.05
p.m. when on armed guard duty at the G.N.T.C./Wholesale, Aboom Wells, Cape
Coast were found drunk. 2. In accordance with regulation 7, subregulation 1 (b)
of L.I. 688, you may within three days of receipt of this notification, if you
wish, submit a written statement of exculpation of the above charge.<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">3.
‘Exculpation’ means proof of innocence.”<o:p></o:p>On 4
September 1974 following a report made to the Inspector-General of Police on
the result of the above service inquiry, the following dismissal order was sent
to the applicant:<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">“Review
of Service Inquiry Proceedings NO. 21619 GC/2 NELSON ADDO Following a service
inquiry held into your conduct by Mr. A. A. Asare Assistant Superintendent, in
accordance with regulation 4 (3) (c) of the Police Service (Disciplinary
Proceedings) Regulations, 1971, (L.I. 688), on charge/s of—drunkenness—contrary
to section 21 (3) (h) of [the Police Service (Administration) Regulations,
[1974] L.I. 880 and your subsequent conviction, I have, after reviewing the
record of proceedings and considering the findings of the adjudicating officer,
imposed a sentence of dismissal from the service on you, in exercise of the
powers vested in me under section 19 (5) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act
350). 2. If you are aggrieved by the sentence or dissatisfied with the manner
in which the inquiry was conducted and wish to appeal to the Police Council,
you may do so, provided that notice for intention to appeal is given and the
grounds in support thereto, are submitted within six weeks from the date on
which this decision is communicated to you.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 4
October 1974 the applicant filed his present application in this court seeking
to have the proceedings which subsequently resulted in his dismissal brought to
this court for the purpose of being quashed alleging “that the proceedings on
which the said decision is based are a nullity since the adjudicating officer
Mr. M. A. A. Asare had no jurisdiction to sit over the matter.” By paragraphs
(9) and (10) of his supporting affidavit the applicant contended that:<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">“(9) That
I am informed by counsel and verily believe the same to be true that by virtue
of section 19 (3) of Act 350 and regulation 3 of L.I. 688, the Central Regional
Disciplinary Board of the Police Service have no power to nominate the said M.
A. A. Asare to conduct the service inquiry and in consequence the whole
proceedings upon which the decision of the Inspector-General of Police is based
is a nullit</main>