IGP to be arrested if....

The attempt by Ghana's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ernest Owusu Poku and Superintendent Opare Addo (Head of Interpol) to disregard, undermine and ridicule the administration of justice in this country has been rejected by the superior court of Judicature in the High Court of Justice, says The Crusading Guide.

Having shown all signs of disrespect for Judge Yaw Appau’s order for them (IGP and Opare Addo) to release a Mecedes Benz Car to Joseph Ekow Baasie Haizel, Judge Yaw Appau was compelled last Monday (November 12, 2001) to warn the IGP and Opare Addo of his readiness to issue a Bench Warrant for their arrest if they do not show up in the next sitting (26 November 2001).

The High Court Judge stated that nobody (including the IGP and Opare Addo) in this country was above the Law. "The other day I was telling one of the Supreme Court judges that if there is a Bench Warrant for the arrest of the IGP, which police officer can go to him and say 'you are under arrest'", Judge Appau lamented to the Court. "This is the problem we have in the Third World," he added.

The High Court judge intimated that such behaviour could not be seen in advanced countries. "I would make the order and see how it would be effected,” he said, looking directly into the face of Philip Addison, Counsel for Ekow Haizel.

Philip Addison then submitted that it was his wish to see the case get to the stage where the IGP was arrested and kept behind bars. "That is why Africa has a problem because some of us think we are above the Law," said the judge.

The IGP and Opare-Addo were on 19th June 2001 ordered by the court to release Ekow Haizel's Mecedes Benz. The hearing of the application was fixed for 12th July 2001 with all respondents served, but the IGP and his men could not show up. They were served again on the 18th July 2001 to no avail.

The conduct of the senior law enforcement officers constituted a gross contempt of the court and an affront to the rule of law, argued a legal practitioner.