Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service

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. ^[1] The IGP is the head of the Police service and is responsible for the operational control and the administration of the Police Service. ^[2]

The IGP is a member of the Police Council. ^[3] The first Ghanaian Police Commissioner, E. R. T. Madjitey was appointed to head the service on October 9, 1958. ^[4] The IGP is aided by two deputies as well as nine directors and a Chief Staff Officer. ^[5]

Following the retirement of B. A. Yakubu as the head of the Police service, the Progress Party government of Kofi Abrefa Busia appointed R. D. Ampaw, a lawyer civil servant as his successor. ^[6]

On 22 July 2019, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana asked David Asante-Apeatu to proceed on leave as the IGP. His deputy, James Oppong-Boanuh was asked to act as IGP until a substantive appointment was made. ^[7] Asante-Apeatu was due to retire within a month. ^[8] In August 2021 COP James Oppong-Boanuh was asked to also proceed on leave to make way for the new acting IGP who was later confirmed as the current IGP George Akuffo Dampare. ^{[9] [10]}

Inspectors General of Police of the Ghana Police Service

Heads of policing in the Gold Coast (1831–1893)

The following are the officials in charge of the organisation which eventually became the Ghana Police Service. ^[11]

No.	Portrait	Inspector General of Police	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
1		Maclean, George Captain George Maclean (1801–1847) Administrator	1831	1844	12–13 years	[11]
2		Hill, CommanderCommander Hill Governor	1844	1859	14–15 years	[11]
3		Glover, John Hawley Captain John Hawley Glover (1829–1885) Commander	1859	1873	13–14 years	[11]
4		Baker, A. W.Captain A. W. Baker Inspector-General	1873	1876	2–3 years	[11]
5		Hay, James Shaw Sir Captain James Shaw Hay (1839–1924) Inspector-General	?	?	—	[11]
6		Grant, AlexanderAlexander Grant	?	?	—	[11]
7		Bryden, CaptainCaptain Bryden	?	?	—	[11]
8		McInnis, Edward Bowater Lt. Colonel Edward Bowater McInnis (1847–1927) Inspector General of Constabulary	1886	1890	3–4 years	[11]
9		Griffith, William Brandford William Brandford Griffith (1824–1897) Governor of the Gold Coast	1891	1893	1–2 years

Commissioner of Police (1893 - 1966)

The head of the Gold Coast Constabulary was designated as the Commissioner of Police. This continued until the coup d'état on 24 February 1966 led to the overthrow of the Nkrumah government and the start of military rule under the National Liberation Council.

No.	Portrait	Inspector General of Police	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
1		Kitson, A. W. Major A. W. Kitson (1862–1938)	1893	1910	16–17 years	[11]
2		Collins, E. V. E. V. Collins (?–1917) Inspector General of Police and Prisons	1910	1917 †	6–7 years	[11] [12]
3		Bettington, Digby Rowland Albemarle D. R. A. Bettington Inspector General of Police and Prisons	1917	1924	6–7 years	[11] [12]
4		Bamford, Harry William Morrey Lt. Colonel H. W. M. Bamford	27 August 1924	3 January 1938	13 years, 4 months	[13] [11]
5		Nottingham, Eric Cato Captain Eric C. Nottingham (1891–1972)	8 October 1938	21 May 1944	5 years, 7 months	[13] [11]
6		Ballantyne, Richard Waverley Head Captain R. W. H. Ballantyne (1896–1965)	21 May 1944	18 August 1948	4 years, 2 months	[13]
7		Eckel, Percy Captain Percy Eckel (1892–?)	18 August 1948	25 May 1949	9 months	[13]
8		Collens, Matthew Kirkham Needham Major M. K. N. Collens (?–1957)	26 May 1949	31 December 1957 †	8 years, 7 months	[13]
9		Alexander, Arthur Lewin Arthur Lewin Alexander (1907–1971)	1 May 1958	8 October 1959	1 year, 5 months	[13]
10		Madjitey, Erasmus Ransford Tawiah E. R. T. Madjitey (1920–1996) First native Ghanaian Commissioner of Police	9 October 1959	8 January 1964	4 years, 2 months	[13]
11		Harlley, John Willie Kofi J. W. K. Harlley (1919–1982)	1 January 1965	24 February 1966	1 year, 1 month	[13]

Inspector General of Police (1966 onwards)

Since 1966, the designation of the most senior police officer has been changed from Commissioner of Police to Inspector General of Police.

No.	Portrait	Inspector General of Police	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
1		Harlley, John Willie Kofi J. W. K. Harlley (1919–1982)	25 February 1966	3 September 1969	3 years, 6 months	[11] [13]
2		Yakubu, Bawa Andani Bawa Andani Yakubu (1926–2002)	23 September 1969	12 June 1971	1 year, 8 months	[14] [13]
3		Ampaw, R. D. R. D. Ampaw	14 June 1971	13 January 1972	6 months	[6]
4		Cobbina, John Henry J. H. Cobbina	13 January 1972	29 September 1974	2 years, 8 months	[11]
5		Ako, Ernest Ernest Ako (1923–2021)	30 September 1974	7 July 1978	3 years, 9 months	[13]
6		Kwakye, Benjamin Samuel Kofi B. S. K. Kwakye	17 July 1978	4 June 1979	10 months	[15] [13]
7		Lamptey, Charles Odartey C. O. Lamptey (1930–2022)	5 June 1979	27 November 1979	5 months	[16]
8		Kyei, F. P. F. P. Kyei	27 November 1979	6 October 1981	1 year, 10 months	[15]
9		Kugblenu, Raphael Kpodo R. K. Kugblenu (?–2015)	6 October 1981	9 March 1984	2 years, 5 months	[17]
10		Omane, S. S. S. S. Omane (?–2014)	9 March 1984	12 June 1986	2 years, 3 months	[17]
11		Dewornu, Christopher Komla C. K. Dewornu Acting IGP 12 Jun 86 - 31 Oct 86	1 November 1986	31 December 1989	3 years, 1 month	[13]
12		Kwofie, J. Y. A J. Y. A Kwofie	1 January 1990	30 September 1996	6 years, 8 months	[13]
13		Nanfuri, Peter Tenganabang Peter Nanfuri (1942–2023)	1 October 1996	21 January 2001	4 years, 3 months	[13]
14		Owusu-Poku, Ernest Ernest Owusu-Poku	22 January 2001	21 July 2001	5 months	[18]
15		Owusu-Nsiah, Nana Nana Owusu-Nsiah	22 July 2001	23 March 2005	3 years, 8 months	[13]
16		Acheampong, Patrick Kwateng Patrick Kwateng Acheampong	25 March 2005	28 January 2009	3 years, 10 months	[19]
17		Mills-Robertson, Elizabeth Elizabeth Mills-Robertson Acting IGP	28 January 2009	15 May 2009	3 months	[13]
18		Quaye, Paul Tawiah Paul Tawiah Quaye	16 May 2009	1 February 2013	3 years, 8 months	[20]
19		Alhassan, Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan Acting IGP 5 Feb 2013 to 6 May 2013	7 May 2013	9 November 2015	2 years, 9 months	[21] [22]
20		Kudalor, John John Kudalor Acting IGP 9 Nov 2015 to 18 Feb 2016	19 February 2016	25 January 2017	1 year, 1 month	[23] [24] [25]
21		Asante-Apeatu, David David Asante-Apeatu	25 January 2017	14 August 2019	2 years, 5 months	[7] [25] [26] [27] [28]
22		Oppong-Boanuh, James James Oppong-Boanuh	9 October 2019	1 August 2021	1 year, 9 months	[29] [30]
23		Dampare, George Akuffo George Akuffo Dampare	8 October 2021	13 March 2025	3 years, 5 months	[31] [32]
24		Yohunu, Christian Tetteh Christian Tetteh Yohunu	13 March 2025		2 days	[33]

References

1. 1992 Ghana Constitution Article 202 clause 1
2. 1992 Ghana Constitution Article 202 clause 2
3. 1992 Ghana Constitution Article 201
4. "Brief Facts about the Ghana Police Service - History of the Service". Ghana Police Service Online. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
5. "Organizational Chart". Ghana Police Service Online. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
6. Austin, Dennis; Luckham, Robin, eds. (1975). Politicians and soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (1st ed.). London: Cass. p. 304. ISBN   978-0714630496.
7. "IGP axed! Oppong-Boanuh acts". Ghanaweb. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
8. "Asante-Apeatu's removal unfortunate – Security analyst". Ghanaweb. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
9. "COP Dampare replaces Oppong-Boanuh as Acting IGP". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
10. "George Akuffo Dampare sworn in as 23rd IGP - MyJoyOnline.com". MyJoyOnline. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
11. Emmanuel Kwesi Aning (April 2006). "An Overview of the Ghana Police Service" (PDF). Journal of Security Sector Management. 4 (2). Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform, University of Cranfield, Shrivenham, UK. Table 3. ISSN   1740-2425 . Retrieved 14 March 2025.
12. "COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL, No. 998. GOL D COAST . REPORT FOR 1917" (PDF). library.illinois.edu. London. August 1919. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
13. "IGP'S FROM 1924 -2013". ghanapolice.info. Ghana Police Service. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
14. "Former IGP B.A. Yakubu is Dead". www.ghanaweb.com. 9 January 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
15. "Retired IGPs present document to Government". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
16. "Late IGP Charles Odartey Lamptey goes home today". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
17. "Photos: Rawlings mourns former IGP S. S. Omane". www.ghanaweb.com. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
18. "Owusu Poku Succeeds Nanfuri As IGP". ghanaweb.com. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
19. "New IGP -Patrick Kwesi Kwateng Acheampong". ghanaweb.com. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
20. "New IGP Appointed". www.ghanaweb.com. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
21. "Police Service gets new IGP". myjoyonline.com. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
22. "President Mahama appoints acting IGP". GhanaWeb. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
23. "Mahama to swear in Kudalor as IGP today". GhanaWeb. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
24. "PHOTOS: Kudalor sworn in as IGP". Graphic Online. 19 February 2016.
25. "John Kudalor finally retires as IGP (Photos)". citifmonline. 4 February 2017.
26. Isaac Yeboah (25 January 2017). "COP David Asante Apeatu is new IGP". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
27. "Oppong-Boanuh appointed Acting IGP, Asante-Apeatu directed to proceed on leave". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Limited. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
28. "Famous People - James Oppong-Boanuh". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
29. "James Oppong-Boanuh confirmed as IGP". citinewsroom.com. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
30. "Oppong-Boanuh charges new IGP, leadership to be united as he retires". Ghana News Agency. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
31. "George Akuffo Dampare sworn in as 23rd IGP - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
32. "From Constable to acting IGP: Check out the inspiring profile of Dampare". citinewsroom.com. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
33. Kweku Zurek (13 March 2025). "Confirmed: Dampare Sacked as IGP, COP Yohunu is New IGP". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2025.

External links and sources

• Ghana Police Service website
• April 2006 - Journal of Security Sector Management ^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
• Photo Gallery of former IGPs