Court dismisses suit to bar COP. Yohuno from Deputy IGP role

The Accra High Court has thrown out a legal challenge seeking to prevent COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno from serving as Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Operations. The suit was filed by a lecturer Emmanuel Felix Amantey, who contended that the Police Council and the Presidency had exceeded their constitutional authority in appointing a Deputy IGP responsible for operations.

Amantey’s argument stated that neither the Ghanaian Constitution nor the Ghana Police Service Act explicitly recognizes the position of Deputy IGP for operations, asserting that it is only mentioned in police regulations without formal legal endorsement. He claimed that the establishment of this role represented an overreach of administrative power and was therefore illegal.

However, Justice Richard Apietu ruled against Amantey, emphasizing that the High Court’s supervisory jurisdiction pertains only to adjudicatory bodies, not administrative ones like the Presidency and the Police Council. He clarified that both the President and the Police Council were acting within their administrative authority when they created the role, rather than exercising judicial powers subject to High Court review. As a result, Justice Apietu dismissed the application, affirming the legality of COP Yohuno’s appointment and allowing him to continue his duties as Deputy IGP for operations.

This ruling upholds the authority of the Police Council and the Presidency in shaping the leadership of the Ghana Police Service to meet operational needs.