Ghana Police Service

Last updated
Ghana Police Service
Ghana Police Service (GPS) patch.jpg
Ghana Police Service patch depicting the service logo
Ghana Police Service (GPS) logo.jpg
Logo of the Ghana Police Service
Ghana Police Service (GPS) Badge.jpg
Shield of the Ghana Police Service
Common nameGhana Police Service
AbbreviationGPS
MottoService With Integrity
Agency overview
Formed1894
Preceding agencies
  • 1894 – 1957: known as the Gold Coast Police Force
  • 1957 – known as the Ghana Police Service
Employees32,684 (30 June 2011)
Jurisdictional structure
National agency Republic of Ghana
Operations jurisdiction Republic of Ghana
Regions of Ghana en.svg
Map of Ghana Police Service's jurisdiction
Size238,530 square kilometres (92,098 sq mi)
Population24,233,431
Governing body Government of Ghana
Constituting instruments
  • Police Act 1904
  • Police Act 1960
  • Police Act 1970
  • Policing Act 1992
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Sworn members23,684 (30 June 2011)
Unsworn members9,000 (30 June 2011)
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Departments
18
  • • Administration
  • • Criminal Investigation
  • • Finance
  • • Human Resource
  • • ICT
  • • Legal & Prosecution
  • • Motor Traffic & Transport Unit
  • • National Operations
  • • National Patrol Department
  • • National Protection Directorate
  • • Police Intelligence Directorate
  • • Police Professional Standard Bureau
  • • Public Affairs
  • • Research, Planning & Transformation
  • • Services
  • • Special Duties
  • • Technical
  • • Welfare
Regions
10
  • Ashanti
  • Brong-Ahafo
  • Central
  • Eastern
  • Greater Accra
  • Northern
  • Upper East
  • Upper West
  • Volta
  • Western
Facilities
Stations651+
Website
www.police.gov.gh
[1]

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) is the main law enforcement agency of Ghana. The service is under the control of the Ghanaian Ministry of the Interior, [2] and employs over 30,000 officers across its 651 stations.

Contents

Organisational structure

The Ghana Police Service operates in twelve divisions: ten covering the ten regions of Ghana, one assigned specifically to the seaport and industrial hub of Tema, and the twelfth being the Railways, Ports and Harbours Division. [3] An additional division, the Marine Police Unit, exists to handle issues that arise from the country's offshore oil and gas industry. [3]

The current head of the Ghana Police Service is Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare. [4] For each of the regional police divisions, there is a Regional Commander who is in charge of all operational and administrative functions under his jurisdiction. In direct operational matters, the Regional Commander furthermore works in tandem with the Regional Operational Commander. For administrative functions, the Regional Commander is assisted by the Deputy Regional Commander and the Regional Crime Officer. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police is assisted by the Director-General of the Police Administration, and supervises the activities of the regional commanders of police. [3]

Regional divisions

Apart from the National Police Headquarters, all the regional divisions have subdivisions under them. [3] The aim of this is to decentralize the activities of the regional police force for more effective and flexible service.

Special units

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Police Drills

There are, furthermore, specialized police units in all the regional divisions. The Regional Commander has oversight over these units. These units include: [3]

Marine Police Unit

In April 2011, the Ghana Police Service set up a special Marine Police Unit (MPU). [6] The unit has amongst its duties policing operations related to the country's oil and gas industry, [3] and the handling of offenses contained in the Fisheries Act 2002 and Fisheries Regulations 2011.

The Marine Unit was inaugurated in Takoradi on 21 June 2013 by Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur. The unit operates two 9-meter patrol boats (P1 & P2) and four 6.3-meter rigid inflatable boats (P3, P4, P5 & P6). [7]

Mounted Squadron

On August 12, 2021, the Ghana Police Service launched a horse patrol operations as part of the Mounted Squadron Unit of the Ghana Police Service. This unit would be running patrol services in some selected part of Accra, Ghana. [8]

Other

The Ghana Police Service has a women's soccer/football club called the Police Ladies Football Club, which was formed in 2007. The club plays in the Ghana Women’s Premier League, the first tier women's football league. [9] [10]

Inspector General of Police

The current head of the Ghana Police Service is Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare. [1] [11]

Ghana Police Ranks

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghana Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Ghana

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is the state military organisation of Ghana, consisting of the Army (GA), Navy (GN), and Ghana Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Policing Unit</span> Policing Unit of London

The Marine Policing Unit (MPU) is the waterborne policing unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service, forming part of the Met Taskforce (MO7) within Met Operations. Its 22 vessels are responsible for waterborne policing of the River Thames in Greater London and supporting the rest of the Metropolitan Police and to the City of London Police when dealing with incidents in or around any waterway in London. A specialist underwater and confined-spaces search team carries out searches throughout the Metropolitan Police District. The unit also has 24 officers who are trained in rope access techniques and trained to carry out searches and counter-demonstrator operations at height.

Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories, in many former British colonies, as well as in Portugal and in several former Portuguese colonies. In some countries, such as Italy, the rank of superintendent is a lower rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenya Police</span> Law enforcement agency of the Republic of Kenya

The Kenya Police Service is a national body in charge of law enforcement in Kenya. It is subordinate to National Police Service which is headed by Inspector General of Police who exercises independent command over the Service. Kenya Police is headed by Deputy Inspector General. Kenya Police is divided into Service Headquarters in Nairobi, Formations, General Duty Commands and Training Institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tripura Police</span> State police force of Tripura, India

Tripura Police is the law enforcement agency of the state of Tripura which organizes and is responsible for policing activities in the state of Tripura, Northeast India. It was formed in the year 1965. Currently Shri Amitabh Ranjan, IPS is DGP of Tripura.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the most senior Police Officer in Ghana. The IGP is appointed by the president of Ghana acting in consultation with the Council of State. The IGP is the head of the Police service and is responsible for the operational control and the administration of the Police Service.

Patrick Kwateng Acheampong is a barrister and was the Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service (IGP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law enforcement in Ghana</span>

The Ghana Police Service is the main law enforcement agency in Ghana. It is organized at national level and has a unitary command under the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Although there are many regional and divisional commands, they all report to the National Headquarters in Accra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karnataka Police</span> Indian law enforcement agency

The Karnataka State Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Karnataka. It was established in 1965 and is headquartered in Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka. The KSP is a state police force that works under the purview of the Department of Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka. The department is headed by the Director General and Inspector General of Police.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Police</span> Civilian national police force of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Police is the civilian national police force of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The police force is responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout Sri Lanka. The police force consists of 43 Territorial Divisions, 67 Functional Divisions, 432 Police Stations with more than 84,000 people. The professional head of the police is the Inspector General of Police who reports to the Minister of Law and Order as well as the National Police Commission. The last Inspector General of Police was Deshabandu Tennakoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Operations Force</span> Military unit

The Marine Police Force, Royal Malaysia Police is the Marine Police division of the Royal Malaysia Police tasked with maintaining law and order and execute national security operations in the Malaysian Territorial Waters (MTW) and no boundaries till the high seas. The Marine Police Force serves under the control of the Malaysian Internal Security & Public Order (ISPO) Department with the role of safeguarding the security of Malaysian waters from any threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamabad Police</span> Police force in Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan

Islamabad Capital Territory Police, also known as Islamabad Police, is a police force formed in 1981 to police Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan under administrative control of the Chief Commissioner, Islamabad Capital Territory Administration.

An inspector-general of police is a senior police officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most senior officer of the entire national police.

Rose Bio Atinga is the first Ghanaian female police commissioner. She is a Frafra from the Upper East Region of Ghana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerala Police</span> Law enforcement agency for Kerala, India

The Kerala Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye" which means "Soft in Temperament, Firm in Action" in Sanskrit. It operates under the Department of Home Affairs, Government of Kerala. The force is headed by the State Police Chief, and the incumbent chief is Shaikh Darvesh Sahib, IPS.

David Asante-Apeatu is a Ghanaian forensic specialist and police officer. As of February 2017, he was the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Ghana Police Service. He is the 28th person to hold the position and the 22nd Ghanaian. On 22 July 2019, he was relieved of his duties as the Inspector General of Police by President Akuffo-Addo.

The police in Canada's ranks differ according to the different police forces and depend on different laws at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.

James Oppong-Boanuh is a Ghanaian lawyer and police officer. He was appointed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Ghana Police Service by President Nana Akufo-Addo in October 2019 and went on retirement as IGP in August 2021. Prior to being appointed as IGP, Oppong-Boanuh served in different command and staff positions including Aide-de-camp to the IGP, Chief Staff Officer to the IGP; Director-General of Welfare, Director-General of Human Resources; Regional Commander, Director-General of Legal and Prosecutions, Director-General of Administration and Deputy IGP.

Tan Sri Acryl Sani bin Haji Abdullah Sani is a Malaysian retired police officer who served as the 13th Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from May 2021 to his retirement in June 2023 and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) from August 2020 to his promotion to the IGP in May 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Akuffo Dampare</span> Ghanaian chartered accountant and police officer

George Akuffo Dampare is a Ghanaian chartered accountant and police officer. He was appointed as the acting Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 21 July 2021 effective 1 August 2021, taking over from James Oppong-Boanuh who had been serving since October 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 "Police Service gets new IGP". Joy Online. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Ghana Police Service". MINT.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "POLICE ADMINISTRATION". GhanaPolice.info. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Ghana Prez appoint C.O.P Akuffo Dampare as new acting IGP". BBC News Pidgin. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  5. ↑ "Police begins horse patrol operations". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  6. ↑ "Ghana Police Service sets up Marine Police Unit". ModernGhana.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Marine Police Unit re-launched in Takoradi". ModernGhana.com. 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Acting IGP launches Horse Patrol Operations - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  9. ↑ Koranteng, Daniel (7 October 2021). "Watch how Police Ladies unveiled their new star in style [VIDEO]". Citi Sports Online. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  10. ↑ Larweh, Kwame (11 October 2021). "Police Ladies, Naija Ratel FC draw goalless:In opening of Flying Officers Cup". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Limited. Archived from the original on 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  11. ↑ Online, Peace FM. "Kudos, Dr. Dampare! You're Doing A Good Job!! - Nana Akomea Praises IGP". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.