Lydia Yaako Donkor (born 28 October 1974) is a Ghanaian lawyer and police officer. She serves as a Commissioner of Police and the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. Donkor is also Chair of the Police Ladies Football Club and Chairperson of the Safety and Security Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Donkor was born on 28 October 1974. She attended Wesley Girls' High School, Cape Coast. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Ghana, followed by professional legal training at the Ghana School of Law. She later pursued an LL.M. in International and Human Rights Law from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. [1] [2]
Donkor began her legal career as an associate at Acquah‑Sampson & Associates, engaging in litigation and legal drafting. She later worked with the Legal Aid Board in Takoradi, where she handled cases related to gender and child rights. [1]
She enlisted in the Ghana Police Service in 2003 as a legal officer and rose through the ranks to become the most senior lawyer within the service. Her previous roles include:
In March 2025, she was appointed Director-General of the CID by Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno. [1] In July 2025, she partnered with QNET to fight internet fraud and educate the public on scams and safety as CID Director-General. [4]
Donkor has played a significant role in football administration in Ghana:
Donkor is a strong advocate for gender equity and human rights. She holds memberships in:
Lydia Donkor is the daughter of Jane Christie Donkor, the first female Commissioner of Police in Ghana, appointed in 2000. [8] She is known to be a fan of Hearts of Oak and Arsenal F.C..