REPUBLIC vs. POLICE COUNCIL; EX PARTE KWAGYIRI [1987]DLHC1199

Date	1987-03-17
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1987]DLHC1199

TAYLOR J.

DR. AKO ADJEI FOR THE APPLICANT.

SAMPONG FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1987]DLHC1199
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>POLICE COUNCIL; EX PARTE KWAGYIRI<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[1979] GLR 27<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:
17 MARCH 1978<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">

DR. AKO ADJEI FOR THE APPLICANT.<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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF TAYLOR J.<o:p></o:p>This is
an application for a writ of certiorari. The applicant, at the relevant time a
general police sergeant in the Ghana Police Service, was charged with the
disciplinary offence of misconduct contrary to section 17 (k) of the Police
Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), and a service inquiry was commenced into the said
misconduct on 3 July 1974, before Mr. A. A. Asare, Assistant Superintendent of
Police in charge of the Cape Coast District who was nominated by Mr. J. H.
Cobbina, G.M., the then Inspector-General of Police, by letter No. SO. 4434/126
dated 3 June 1974 acting by virtue of the power vested in him under section
19(3) of Act 350, to hold the inquiry. The applicant pleaded not guilty but on
13 August 1974 the service inquiry was concluded and the inquiry officer having
formed the opinion that the charge had been proved, found him guilty of the
charge and convicted him and he recommended as punishment a reduction in rank.<o:p></o:p>Section
17 (k) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), is as follows:<o:p></o:p>“17. It
shall be a misconduct for a police officer—. . .<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">(k) to do
any other act without reasonable excuse which amounts to a failure to perform
in a proper manner any duty imposed on him as such, or which contravenes any
enactment relating to the Police Service, or which is otherwise prejudicial to the
efficient conduct of the Police Service or tends to bring the Police Service
into disrepute.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
particulars of the service charge which the applicant faced are as follows:<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">“For that
you on 22 February 1974 being the Cape Coast District Paymaster employed
temporarily in the Regional Pay Office, Cape Coast, during the absence on leave
of Inspector S. A. Nyasiah, the Regional Paymaster, did cause Conveyance Orders
Nos.483924, 483925 and 483926 allocated to the Cape Coast District Pay Office
to be issued in the name of No. 5868 D/Sgt. P. Y. K. Essel, DSM. Asuadem Builsa
and Inspector Grade II S. K. Hammond, who were transferred from Cape Coast to
Garu, Upper Region and Tamale, Northern Region respectively and prepared
payment vouchers Nos. 804, 805 and 806/73-74 to the tune of ¢551.25 in favour
of an alleged transport owner Kofi Anhwere, P.O. Box 46, Cape Coast, and cashed
the vouchers for yourself.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>As I have
already indicated the inquiry officer convicted the applicant. He forwarded the
proceedings together with his findings and recommendation to the
Inspector-General of Police and on 9 October 1974, by letter ref. No. SO.
4434/161 the Inspector-General of Police wrote to the applicant through the
Assistant Commissioner, Central Region, inter’ alia as follows:<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">“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 charges of
misconduct contrary to section 17 (k) of Act 350/70, 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 power vested in me under section 19 (5)
of the Police Service Act 350/70 . . .<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>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 of your intention to appeal is giv</main>