Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service

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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]

Contents

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.PortraitInspector General of PoliceTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
1
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Maclean, George Captain George Maclean
(1801–1847)
Administrator
1831184412–13 years [11]
2
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Hill, CommanderCommander Hill
Governor
1844185914–15 years [11]
3
No image.png
Glover, John Hawley Captain John Hawley Glover
(1829–1885)
Commander
1859187313–14 years [11]
4
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Baker, A. W.Captain A. W. Baker
Inspector-General
187318762–3 years [11]
5
No image.png
Hay, James Shaw Sir Captain James Shaw Hay
(1839–1924)
Inspector-General
?? [11]
6
No image.png
Grant, AlexanderAlexander Grant?? [11]
7
No image.png
Bryden, CaptainCaptain Bryden?? [11]
8
No image.png
McInnis, Edward Bowater Lt. Colonel Edward Bowater McInnis
(1847–1927)
Inspector General of Constabulary
188618903–4 years [11]
9
No image.png
Griffith, William Brandford William Brandford Griffith
(1824–1897)
Governor of the Gold Coast
189118931–2 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.PortraitInspector General of PoliceTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
1
No image.png
Kitson, A. W. Major A. W. Kitson
(1862–1938)
1893191016–17 years [11]
2
No image.png
Collins, E. V. E. V. Collins
(?–1917)
Inspector General of Police and Prisons
19101917 6–7 years [11] [12]
3
No image.png
Bettington, Digby Rowland Albemarle D. R. A. Bettington
Inspector General of Police and Prisons
191719246–7 years [11] [12]
4
No image.png
Bamford, Harry William Morrey Lt. Colonel H. W. M. Bamford 27 August 19243 January 193813 years, 4 months [13] [11]
5
No image.png
Nottingham, Eric Cato Captain Eric C. Nottingham
(1891–1972)
8 October 193821 May 19445 years, 7 months [13] [11]
6
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Ballantyne, Richard Waverley Head Captain R. W. H. Ballantyne
(1896–1965)
21 May 194418 August 19484 years, 2 months [13]
7
No image.png
Eckel, Percy Captain Percy Eckel
(1892–?)
18 August 194825 May 19499 months [13]
8
No image.png
Collens, Matthew Kirkham Needham Major M. K. N. Collens
(?–1957)
26 May 194931 December 1957 8 years, 7 months [13]
9
No image.png
Alexander, Arthur Lewin Arthur Lewin Alexander
(1907–1971)
1 May 19588 October 19591 year, 5 months [13]
10
No image.png
Madjitey, Erasmus Ransford Tawiah E. R. T. Madjitey
(1920–1996)
First native Ghanaian Commissioner of Police
9 October 19598 January 19644 years, 2 months [13]
11
No image.png
Harlley, John Willie Kofi J. W. K. Harlley
(1919–1982)
1 January 196524 February 19661 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.PortraitInspector General of PoliceTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
1
No image.png
Harlley, John Willie Kofi J. W. K. Harlley
(1919–1982)
25 February 19663 September 19693 years, 6 months [11] [13]
2
No image.png
Yakubu, Bawa Andani Bawa Andani Yakubu
(1926–2002)
23 September 196912 June 19711 year, 8 months [14] [13]
3
No image.png
Ampaw, R. D. R. D. Ampaw 14 June 197113 January 19726 months [6]
4
No image.png
Cobbina, John Henry J. H. Cobbina 13 January 197229 September 19742 years, 8 months [11]
5
No image.png
Ako, Ernest Ernest Ako
(1923–2021)
30 September 19747 July 19783 years, 9 months [13]
6
No image.png
Kwakye, Benjamin Samuel Kofi B. S. K. Kwakye 17 July 19784 June 197910 months [15] [13]
7
No image.png
Lamptey, Charles Odartey C. O. Lamptey
(1930–2022)
5 June 197927 November 19795 months [16]
8
No image.png
Kyei, F. P. F. P. Kyei 27 November 19796 October 19811 year, 10 months [15]
9
No image.png
Kugblenu, Raphael Kpodo R. K. Kugblenu
(?–2015)
6 October 19819 March 19842 years, 5 months [17]
10
No image.png
Omane, S. S. S. S. Omane
(?–2014)
9 March 198412 June 19862 years, 3 months [17]
11
No image.png
Dewornu, Christopher Komla C. K. Dewornu
Acting IGP 12 Jun 86 - 31 Oct 86
1 November 198631 December 19893 years, 1 month [13]
12
No image.png
Kwofie, J. Y. A J. Y. A Kwofie 1 January 199030 September 19966 years, 8 months [13]
13
No image.png
Nanfuri, Peter Tenganabang Peter Nanfuri
(1942–2023)
1 October 199621 January 20014 years, 3 months [13]
14
No image.png
Owusu-Poku, Ernest Ernest Owusu-Poku 22 January 200121 July 20015 months [18]
15
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Owusu-Nsiah, Nana Nana Owusu-Nsiah 22 July 200123 March 20053 years, 8 months [13]
16
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Acheampong, Patrick Kwateng Patrick Kwateng Acheampong 25 March 200528 January 20093 years, 10 months [19]
17
No image.png
Mills-Robertson, Elizabeth Elizabeth Mills-Robertson
Acting IGP
28 January 200915 May 20093 months [13]
18
No image.png
Quaye, Paul Tawiah Paul Tawiah Quaye 16 May 20091 February 20133 years, 8 months [20]
19
No image.png
Alhassan, Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan
Acting IGP 5 Feb 2013 to 6 May 2013
7 May 20139 November 20152 years, 9 months [21] [22]
20
No image.png
Kudalor, John John Kudalor
Acting IGP 9 Nov 2015 to 18 Feb 2016
19 February 201625 January 20171 year, 1 month [23] [24] [25]
21
No image.png
Asante-Apeatu, David David Asante-Apeatu 25 January 201714 August 20192 years, 5 months [7] [25] [26] [27] [28]
22
No image.png
Oppong-Boanuh, James James Oppong-Boanuh 9 October 20191 August 20211 year, 9 months [29] [30]
23
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Dampare, George Akuffo George Akuffo Dampare 8 October 202113 March 20253 years, 5 months [31] [32]
24
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Yohunu, Christian Tetteh Christian Tetteh Yohunu 13 March 20252 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. 1 2 Austin, Dennis; Luckham, Robin, eds. (1975). Politicians and soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (1st ed.). London: Cass. p. 304. ISBN   978-0714630496.
  7. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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.