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.
Policing in early Ghana (then the Gold Coast) was originally organized by traditional authorities led by local kings or chiefs. This they did by employing unpaid messengers to carry out executive and judicial functions in their respective communities.[ citation needed ] In the metropolitan areas of Ashanti, several police forces were responsible for maintaining law and order. In Kumasi, there existed a uniformed police, who were distinguished by their long hair. [1] The Nkwansrafo or road wardens served as the highway police; checking the movement of traders and strangers on all Ashanti roads. They were also responsible for scouting and were charged with the collection of tolls from traders. [2] Professional policing was introduced by the British Colonial authorities in 1831. [3] The colonial administrator at the time, Captain George Maclean, Governor of the Gold Coast, recruited 129 men to patrol the trade routes between Ashanti Empire and the coast and to protect colonial merchants and officials around the castle. [4]
In 1844, these troops were taken over by the British colonial authorities and became the "Gold Coast Militia and Police". In 1871 when the British assumed full sovereignty over the Gold Coast, the 90 men in the police force was reinforced with a further 400 men. All the commissioned officers at the time were British. [4] The force became the "Gold Coast Constabulary" in 1876. [5]
The Police Ordinance, passed in 1894, gave legal backing to the formation of a civilian police force in the colony. By 1902, the police had been divided into General, Escort, Mines and Railway Police and this was legalised by the Police [Amendment] Ordinance of 1904. A Marine Police unit was formed in 1906. This was replaced by the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service in 1942. The Criminal Investigation Department was established in 1922. [6]
Following the riots of 1948 led by the Big Six, the Special Branch and the Police Reserves Unit was formed for riot control and prevent destabilization of the government. The Special Branch was to gather intelligence though it was also used to hound political opponents. The Reserves unit was known to deal harshly with street demonstrators and protestors. [7]
The Wireless and Communications Unit was opened in June 1950. A women's branch was established with 12 officers in 1952. [3] [8] The Police College was opened in 1959. Prior to this, all officers were trained in the United Kingdom. [8] Ghana has now sought to secure advanced training programs from World Police Academy Canada and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Ireland.
The first Ghanaian to head the Ghana Police was E. R. T. Madjitey, who was appointed on October 9, 1958.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the head of the Ghana Police service. He is aided by 2 Deputy IGPs responsible for administration and operations. The police structure is organized at national level into ten schedules each headed by a Commissioner. [9] The schedules are: [10]
There are 13 regions under the police service. Each of them is headed by a Regional Commander with a rank of Assistant Commissioner. There are the ten geographical regions, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta and Western regions. The last three regions are Tema, Railway and Ports, and finally National Headquarters. [11]
Each region with the exception of the National Headquarters is divided into divisions. There are 51 divisions nationwide. These are further subdivided into 179 Districts and 651 Stations across the country. [11]
The ranks of Ghanaian police officers are loosely based on that of the British and other Commonwealth police although there are variations. [12] The posts and ranks within the police service are broadly divided into those of superior officers and subordinate officers or other ranks. [13]
Commander is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
Police commissioner is a senior rank in many police forces of the world. In other jurisdictions, it is the title of a member of an oversight board.
The Accra riots started on 28 February 1948 in Accra, the capital of the then British colony of the Gold Coast. A protest march by unarmed ex-servicemen who were agitating for their benefits as veterans of World War II, who had fought with the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force, was broken up by police, leaving three leaders of the group dead. They were Sergeant Nii Adjetey, Corporal Patrick Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey. who has since been memorialized in Accra.
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 and in many former British colonies. In some countries, such as Italy, the rank of superintendent is a lower rank.
The Rajasthan Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Rajasthan in India. The Rajasthan Police has its headquarters in the Jaipur, the state capital. The motto of the force is "committed to serve".
The Superintendent of Police (SP) is a rank in Indian police forces held by an officer who serves as the head of a police district primarily in rural areas. Other officers in SP rank may be appointed as the head of specialised wings, units or similar posts. In the commissionerate system in cities, an SP may be appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) under the Commissioner of Police. Since the district magistrate is the administrative head of a district encompassing the police district, the SP reports directly to the district magistrate, who has general control and direction over police administration in the district. In the organisation, SP sends monthly reports to the Director General of Police (DGP) through the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).
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).
Ernest Owusu-Poku is a former Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service (IGP).
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A Deputy Inspector General of Police is a high-ranking official position in Police in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.
The Bangladesh Police is the national law enforcement agency of Bangladesh, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order within Bangladesh. Though the police are primarily concerned with the maintenance of law and order and security of persons and property of individuals, they also play a big role in the criminal justice system. Bangladesh police played an important role during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
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.
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, and employs over 30,000 officers across its 651 stations.
Capt. Eric Cato Nottingham was a British soldier and police officer who served as the Inspector General of Police of the Gold Coast Police Service from 8 October 1938 to 21 May 1944.
Rose Bio Atinga is the first Ghanaian female police commissioner. She is a Frafra from the Upper East Region of Ghana.
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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.
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.