False imprisonment is one of the most important torts protecting personal liberty. It may arise from an unlawful arrest, police detention, detention by a private individual, or even situations where a person is prevented from leaving without being physically locked in a room. But does false imprisonment require physical force? Must the person know that they are being detained? Can the police keep someone for more than 48 hours without taking them to court? Can a private person lawfully restrain someone suspected of committing a crime? This article examines what false imprisonment means under Ghanaian law and answers some of the important questions surrounding unlawful detention and personal liberty.