A Sergeant of the Ghana Police Service has claimed in a sworn court document that Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno directed him and 10 other policemen to defy orders from the Police administration.
Sgt David Ojeyim, in a lawsuit filed at the High Court for an Order of Judicial Review, stated that he refused to obey a Police Signal (Directive) upon the direct instruction of the DIGP.
In his sworn testimony, Ojeyim stated, “Since the team enlisted for the assignment was at the direction and instruction of the Deputy IGP, we informed him on October 2, 2024, on the transfer signal, wherefore he directed us not to comply with same.”
Ojeyim, a member of the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), claims in his deposition that he and 11 others were recruited by ASP Alhaji Jalil Bawa, an officer from the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD), on the instructions of DIGP Yohuno for an intelligence-gathering operation dubbed “Operation D-Day.” Despite ASP Bawa not being a member of the PID and lacking the authority to recruit officers for such an operation, Ojeyim and the others followed his instructions.
While operating under “Operation D-Day,” Ojeyim received instructions that he had been transferred out of Accra. He states, “Since the team enlisted for the assignment was at the direction and instruction of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, we informed him on October 2, 2024, of the transfer signal, wherefore he directed us not to comply with same as it was dubious and without any justification.”
Refusing to obey orders is considered a serious disciplinary offense, potentially amounting to mutiny, within the police service. The chain of command is fundamental to the functioning of any security organization. If senior officers, such as the DIGP, are directing subordinates to disobey orders, it raises serious concerns about the discipline and integrity of the entire force.
The officers who refused the transfer order have been interdicted pending a service inquiry. However, with the ongoing court proceedings, any disciplinary action by the police will likely have to await the outcome of the judicial review.
The fate of DIGP Christian Yohuno remains uncertain. The veracity of Sgt. Ojeyim’s claims will need to be established through the court process.
