A sergeant of the Ghana Police Service has alleged, in a sworn court document, that Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, instructed him and 10 other officers to defy directives issued by the Police Administration.

Sergeant David Ojeyim, in a lawsuit filed at the High Court seeking an Order of Judicial Review, claimed his refusal to comply with a Police Signal (directive) was based on direct orders from the Deputy Inspector-General of Police. 

In Paragraph 18 of his sworn testimony, Sgt Ojeyim stated: “Since the team enlisted for the assignment was at the direction and instruction of the Deputy IGP, we informed him on 2 October 2024 about the transfer signal, whereupon he directed us not to comply with it. He further directed us to make an entry into the station diary, which we complied with.”

According to Sgt Ojeyim, a member of the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), he and 11 other officers were recruited by ASP Jalil Bawa of the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) on instructions from Mr Yohuno for an “Intelligence Gathering” operation dubbed “Operation D-Day”. 

Sgt Ojeyim contends that ASP Bawa, not a member of the PID, lacked the authority to recruit or instruct him and the other officers.

However, they complied, given the directive allegedly originated from the Deputy IGP.

In his deposition, Sgt Ojeyim further explained that while carrying out their tasks under “Operation D-Day”, a WhatsApp group was set up to coordinate the activities. During this period, he and several team members received a transfer directive relocating them from Accra. 

Sgt Ojeyim claimed that upon informing the Deputy IGP of the transfer order, they were directed to disregard it as it was “dubious and without justification.”

The allegation raises serious questions about discipline within the Ghana Police Service, particularly as disobedience to orders is considered mutiny, the most severe disciplinary offence in the security services. 

Discipline in such institutions relies heavily on a system of “Command and Control.”

When junior officers allege that the second-highest-ranking officer directed them to disobey orders, it suggests a significant breakdown in hierarchy and discipline.

The officers who disobeyed the transfer directive have since been interdicted pending a service inquiry. 

However, with the case now before the High Court, any disciplinary action will have to wait until the court proceedings are concluded.

The implications for Deputy IGP Christian Yohuno remain uncertain, pending the adoption of the testimony in court.