CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE, 1960 (ACT 30)

Section 10 - Arrest by Police Officer without Warrant

(1) A police officer may arrest without warrant any person who—

(a) commits an offence in his presence;

(b) obstructs a police officer in the execution of his duty;

(2) A police officer may arrest without warrant any person he suspects upon reasonable grounds -

(a) of having committed an offence;

(b) of being about to commit an offence, where there is no other practicable way of preventing commission of the offence;

Section 12 - Arrest by private person, without Warrant

(1) A private person may arrest without warrant any person who in his presence commits -

(a) any offence involving the use of force or violence;

(b) any offence whereby bodily harm is caused to any person;

(d) any offence involving injury to public property; or

(e) any offence involving injury to property owned by, or in the lawful care or custody of, that private person.

GHANA POLICE SERVICE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPS)
NUMBER: GPS-SP004-15
SUBJECT: USE OF FORCE

1. POLICY

Act 1960 (Act 30, Act 653)

Police Officers shall use force when necessary in the execution of their legitimate duties.

Police Officers shall not use force more than is necessarily required to achieve the object of law enforcement.

3. PROCEDURES

3.1. Police Officers shall only use force that is reasonable, necessary and proportional to the resistance level of the offender.

3.2. Justifiable use of force

3.2.1. To defend themselves and others against imminent threat of death or serious injury

3.2.2. To prevent the commission of a serious crime

My Dear Friends,

I’m not a lawyer, not even a law student. Just like some of you, I can simply read and understand English. Reading the above provisions of Act 30 and the Ghana Police Service SOPs, be careful what you do at an Electoral Commission designated voter registration centre, regardless of whatever your political party leaders ask you to do.

If you are asked to engage in any acts of violence, threats or intimidation, just don’t do it. If you do, any Police Officer (or security agent) present, together with other members of the public, could arrest you. And in the process of arresting you, the “Police Officers shall use force when necessary in the execution of their legitimate duties”, “to defend themselves and others against imminent threat of death or serious injury”.

Don’t sacrifice your life and the livelihood of your family for any politician. It is not worth it.