THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE

GHANA POLICE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

ACCRA

PETITION FOR INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY, ASSAULT, ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, UNLAWFUL DETENTION, AND INTERFERENCE WITH PERSONAL PROPERTY

I, Perez Addo, respectfully submit this petition for your urgent attention and intervention regarding a disturbing incident involving a police officer identified to me as Police Officer Abdul Salem (or Salam), whose conduct on 1 June 2026 subjected me to physical assault, humiliation, unlawful treatment, and violations of my rights as a citizen of Ghana.

FACTS OF THE INCIDENT

On 1 June 2026, while travelling to Aburi to board a vehicle to Madina, I was a passenger in a taxi carrying five occupants, including the driver. During the journey, a police officer stopped our vehicle and directed that "the person in the middle should come out," referring to me.

I complied immediately and exited the vehicle. The officer subsequently instructed the remaining passengers to disembark. He requested my bag, which I voluntarily handed over for inspection.

Before the search commenced, another passenger, whom I did not know, voluntarily removed his shirt and indicated that he was not carrying anything illegal, suggesting that all of us should be allowed to proceed.

As the officer prepared to search my bag, I informed him that I intended to record the search process on my mobile phone as a safeguard against the possibility of any item being planted in my belongings. The officer responded that I required his permission to record him and stated that he would not grant such permission. I found this response concerning. Before I could make any further comments, he ordered me to keep quiet, and I complied.

When the search began, I nevertheless activated the recording function on my phone. The officer immediately became angry, slapped me, and called for handcuffs despite my calm and cooperative conduct.

Thereafter, I was ordered to sit by the roadside in full public view, exposing me to humiliation before motorists, pedestrians, and members of the public.

While I remained seated, another motorist was stopped by the same officer. The officer claimed that the motorist possessed bullets in his bag and called for handcuffs from a colleague. However, the colleague was occupied elsewhere. The officer then personally went to retrieve handcuffs, during which time the motorist escaped.

Following this incident, the officer appeared visibly angry and blamed me for the escape of the motorist, stating that if not for me, he would have had access to the handcuffs necessary to detain the individual.

Thereafter, the officer proceeded to a nearby drinking spot and subsequently returned smelling strongly of alcohol. He then took me behind a vehicle, away from public view, and began physically assaulting me. The assault included repeated slaps, kicks, and strikes with a firearm. Throughout this period, he repeatedly left for the drinking spot and returned to continue the assault.

This treatment continued for approximately three hours.

Eventually, my mother and uncle arrived and engaged the officers in conversation. Subsequently, my uncle was asked to retrieve my mobile phone because the police wished to verify whether I was a student.

While I remained handcuffed, the officer gained access to my mobile phone. Upon recovering my device, I discovered that all videos stored on it had been deleted except the specific recording I had made of the incident. Fortunately, before the phone came into the officer's possession, I had already forwarded the video to myself through WhatsApp and therefore retain a copy of the evidence.

CONCERNS ARISING FROM THE INCIDENT

The conduct complained of raises serious concerns, including but not limited to:

Physical assault and battery by a police officer.

Excessive and unjustified use of force.

Abuse of police authority.

Humiliation and degrading treatment.

Possible unlawful detention and restraint.

Alleged consumption of alcohol while on duty.

Interference with and deletion of personal digital property and evidence.

Conduct likely to undermine public confidence in the Ghana Police Service.

RELIEF SOUGHT

In light of the foregoing, I respectfully request that the Ghana Police Service:

Conduct a full and independent investigation into this incident.

Identify and obtain statements from all officers present at the scene.

Review any available police records, station diaries, body-camera footage, CCTV footage, or other evidence relevant to the incident.

Investigate the alleged deletion of content from my mobile phone.

Take appropriate disciplinary and administrative action should the allegations be substantiated.

Facilitate appropriate remedies for the injuries, losses, and harm suffered.

Provide me with information on the outcome of the investigation.

I make this petition in good faith and in the interest of accountability, professionalism, and the preservation of public confidence in the Ghana Police Service.

I am prepared to provide medical records, witness information, electronic evidence, and any additional information required to assist with investigations.

Respectfully submitted,

Perez Addo. 

Citizen, Ghana.