A young Circuit Court Judge at the Adenta Court Complex in Accra, Angela Attachie, has accused four police officers of harassing her instead of protecting her as they’re mandated to.
Her claims follow recent reports suggesting that she influenced the detention of four police officers by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohonu, after the officers reportedly attempted to arrest her in December 2024 for allegedly violating traffic regulations in the Adentan Municipality.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, 22 April, Judge Attachie, who also serves as Queen of Ho Bankoe of Asogli State in the Volta Region, said the officers were detained following her recent petition to the Police Headquarters.
She explained that the officers were detained due to the alleged harassment and assault on her Clerk in December 2024, and that neither she nor the current IGP are influencing the case in any negative way but are only seeking justice.
She then recounted the events that transpired, saying, “On my way to work on that fateful morning, I approached the stretch just before Rowi Junction, which leads to my court. I usually take a shorter turn just before the junction,” she explained.
“Approximately 100 metres from the turn, I switched to the other side of the newly constructed road to access the junction, as there was heavy traffic on the main road.”
She stated that a police vehicle was parked on the newly constructed section of the road. Upon reaching them, she was signalled to stop, which she did. “They told me I was under arrest. When I asked why, they said I should have remained in traffic until the exact point of the turn before veering off the road.”
According to the judge, she explained to the officers that it was impractical to remain in the heavy traffic and that she had simply branched off on a clear road. Despite her explanation, the officers insisted on arresting her.
“It was at that point that I pointed out the court building behind them and told them I was the presiding judge. I reiterated that I had done nothing wrong to warrant an arrest,” she said.
She alleged that the police officers are members of the “Dampare special forces” of the Ghana Police Service.
She said the officers followed her vehicle at low speed due to the dusty condition of the road, then blocked her path at the entrance to her court.
“One officer alighted and used car tyres placed by the roadside to block the front of my car, while another officer used cement blocks to immobilise the rear tyres,” she recounted.
Assistance was then sought from her court’s security staff to help carry her belongings. “When they arrived, they greeted me respectfully and referred to me as ‘My Lady’,” she added.
Judge Attachie also claimed that her court clerk, who had been asked to take photographs of the scene for documentation purposes, was physically assaulted and unlawfully detained by the officers.
“After reaching my office, I instructed my clerk to take photos of the officers and the vehicle to support any complaint I would file. The officers became offended that he was taking pictures. They assaulted him, hitting him in the eye, stomach, and thigh, and subsequently took him to the Adentan Police Station.”
She claimed that the clerk was detained from around 8 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m. before being released. Her official vehicle was also towed from the court premises to the Adenta Divisional Police Station and was only returned upon the intervention of the Police commander.
According to Judge Attachie, it was revealed during interrogations that the officers involved were members of a special task force formed by the former IGP, George Akuffo Dampare, and as such were considered outside the control of local authorities. The operation was reportedly led by Godwin Dey.
The judge emphasised that contrary to circulating reports, she had not influenced the detention of the four officers, but had merely written to the Police Headquarters to seek justice.
“It must be made clear that I have no intention of disrupting the work of these officers,” she stated. “I only sought redress and wish to clarify that I did not violate any traffic regulations, contrary to some media reports.”
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