High Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Christian Tetteh Yohuno’s Appointment as Deputy IGP

The Accra High Court has dismissed an application seeking to restrain Christian Tetteh Yohuno from holding himself as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) in charge of Operations following his appointment by President Akufo-Addo.

A private citizen, Emmanuel Felix Mantey, dragged the Deputy IGP appointee to court, describing the appointment as illegal since there is no office in the Ghana Police Service set up as the Deputy IGP in charge of Operations.

In Mr. Mantey's statement of the case, lawyers of the lecturer, led by Lom Nuku Ahlijah, argued that the Constitution only recognized the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and did not create a ‘Deputy Inspector General of Police’. He also noted that the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) does not also create a ‘Deputy Inspector General of Police’ position.

In his ruling, Justice Richard Apietu indicated that the Ghana Police and the president are not lower courts to be adjudicated by the High Court. He also explained that President Akufo-Addo performed his administrative duties and not an exercising adjudicatory powers when he appointed COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno as Deputy IGP in charge of Operations.

He stressed that the applicant did not properly invoke the supervisory jurisdiction of the high court and thus dismissed the application.

"The issue of jurisdiction in any matter before the court is so fundamentally important that it cannot be overemphasized,” Justice Apietu added.

BACKGROUND 

On July 17, 2024, President Akufo-Addo appointed COP Tetteh Yohuno as the new Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations to aid IGP Dr George Akufo Dampare.

A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, indicated that the appointment was made under the advice of the Police Council at its meeting held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, which acknowledged COP Yohuno’s exceptional credentials and dedication to duty.