TWUMASI J.: Until his dismissal, the applicant was a general police constable with service No. 22499 CC/1 stationed at Tarkwa in the Western Region. Some time in October 1981, two charges of misconduct contrary to section 17 (k) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), were preferred against him.
The procedural rules for the trial of offences committed by police officers are contained in the Police Force (Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations, 1974 (L.I. 993). Under regulation 3 (1), the hierarchy of the disciplinary authority is: (a) a superior officer who shall have power to impose a penalty not more severe than stoppage of increment for one year; (b) a regional board which has power to impose all penalties on all ranks up to sergeant; and all minor penalties; and (c) the central board at the Police Headquarters, Accra, which has power to impose all penalties. Before it takes legal effect, a penalty imposed by a superior officer requires the approval of the regional board. Similarl…