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
[edit]Heads of policing in the Gold Coast (1831–1893)
[edit]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 | Captain George Maclean (1801–1847) Administrator | 1831 | 1844 | 12–13 years | [11] | |
| 2 | Commander Hill Governor | 1844 | 1859 | 14–15 years | [11] | |
| 3 | Captain John Hawley Glover (1829–1885) Commander | 1859 | 1873 | 13–14 years | [11] | |
| 4 | Captain A. W. Baker Inspector-General | 1873 | 1876 | 2–3 years | [11] | |
| 5 | Sir Captain James Shaw Hay (1839–1924) Inspector-General | ? | ? | — | [11] | |
| 6 | Alexander Grant | ? | ? | — | [11] | |
| 7 | Captain Bryden | ? | ? | — | [11] | |
| 8 | Lt. Colonel Edward Bowater McInnis (1847–1927) Inspector General of Constabulary | 1886 | 1890 | 3–4 years | [11] | |
| 9 | William Brandford Griffith (1824–1897) Governor of the Gold Coast | 1891 | 1893 | 1–2 years |
Commissioner of Police (1893 - 1966)
[edit]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 | Major A. W. Kitson (1862–1938) | 1893 | 1910 | 16–17 years | [11] | |
| 2 | E. V. Collins (?–1917) Inspector General of Police and Prisons | 1910 | 1917 † | 6–7 years | [11][12] | |
| 3 | D. R. A. Bettington Inspector General of Police and Prisons | 1917 | 1924 | 6–7 years | [11][12] | |
| 4 | Lt. Colonel H. W. M. Bamford | 27 August 1924 | 3 January 1938 | 13 years, 4 months | [13][11] | |
| 5 | Captain Eric C. Nottingham (1891–1972) | 8 October 1938 | 21 May 1944 | 5 years, 7 months | [13][11] | |
| 6 | Captain R. W. H. Ballantyne (1896–1965) | 21 May 1944 | 18 August 1948 | 4 years, 2 months | [13] | |
| 7 | Captain Percy Eckel (1892–?) | 18 August 1948 | 25 May 1949 | 9 months | [13] | |
| 8 | Major M. K. N. Collens (?–1957) | 26 May 1949 | 31 December 1957 † | 8 years, 7 months | [13] | |
| 9 | Arthur Lewin Alexander (1907–1971) | 1 May 1958 | 8 October 1959 | 1 year, 5 months | [13] | |
| 10 | E. R. T. Madjitey (1920–1996) First native Ghanaian Commissioner of Police | 9 October 1959 | 8 January 1964 | 4 years, 2 months | [13] | |
| 11 | J. W. K. Harlley (1919–1982) | 1 January 1965 | 24 February 1966 | 1 year, 1 month | [13] |
Inspector General of Police (1966 onwards)
[edit]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 | J. W. K. Harlley (1919–1982) | 25 February 1966 | 3 September 1969 | 3 years, 6 months | [11][13] | |
| 2 | Bawa Andani Yakubu (1926–2002) | 23 September 1969 | 12 June 1971 | 1 year, 8 months | [14][13] | |
| 3 | R. D. Ampaw | 14 June 1971 | 13 January 1972 | 6 months | [6] | |
| 4 | J. H. Cobbina | 13 January 1972 | 29 September 1974 | 2 years, 8 months | [11] | |
| 5 | Ernest Ako (1923–2021) | 30 September 1974 | 7 July 1978 | 3 years, 9 months | [13] | |
| 6 | B. S. K. Kwakye | 17 July 1978 | 4 June 1979 | 10 months | [15][13] | |
| 7 | C. O. Lamptey (1930–2022) | 5 June 1979 | 27 November 1979 | 5 months | [16] | |
| 8 | F. P. Kyei | 27 November 1979 | 6 October 1981 | 1 year, 10 months | [15] | |
| 9 | R. K. Kugblenu (?–2015) | 6 October 1981 | 9 March 1984 | 2 years, 5 months | [17] | |
| 10 | S. S. Omane (?–2014) | 9 March 1984 | 12 June 1986 | 2 years, 3 months | [17] | |
| 11 | C. K. Dewornu Acting IGP 12 Jun 86 - 31 Oct 86 | 1 November 1986 | 31 December 1989 | 3 years, 1 month | [13] | |
| 12 | J. Y. A Kwofie | 1 January 1990 | 30 September 1996 | 6 years, 8 months | [13] | |
| 13 | Peter Nanfuri (1942–2023) | 1 October 1996 | 21 January 2001 | 4 years, 3 months | [13] | |
| 14 | Ernest Owusu-Poku | 22 January 2001 | 21 July 2001 | 5 months | [18] | |
| 15 | Nana Owusu-Nsiah | 22 July 2001 | 23 March 2005 | 3 years, 8 months | [13] | |
| 16 | Patrick Kwateng Acheampong | 25 March 2005 | 28 January 2009 | 3 years, 10 months | [19] | |
| 17 | Elizabeth Mills-Robertson Acting IGP | 28 January 2009 | 15 May 2009 | 3 months | [13] | |
| 18 | Paul Tawiah Quaye | 16 May 2009 | 1 February 2013 | 3 years, 8 months | [20] | |
| 19 | 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 | 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 | David Asante-Apeatu | 25 January 2017 | 14 August 2019 | 2 years, 5 months | [7][25][26][27][28] | |
| 22 | James Oppong-Boanuh | 9 October 2019 | 1 August 2021 | 1 year, 9 months | [29][30] | |
| 23 | George Akuffo Dampare | 8 October 2021 | 13 March 2025 | 3 years, 5 months | [31][32] | |
| 24 | Christian Tetteh Yohunu | 13 March 2025 | 70 days | [33] |
References
[edit]- ^ 1992 Ghana Constitution Article 202 clause 1
- ^ 1992 Ghana Constitution Article 202 clause 2
- ^ 1992 Ghana Constitution Article 201
- ^ "Brief Facts about the Ghana Police Service - History of the Service". Ghana Police Service Online. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
- ^ "Organizational Chart". Ghana Police Service Online. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
- ^ a b Austin, Dennis; Luckham, Robin, eds. (1975). Politicians and soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (1st ed.). London: Cass. p. 304. ISBN 978-0714630496.
- ^ a b "IGP axed! Oppong-Boanuh acts". Ghanaweb. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ^ "Asante-Apeatu's removal unfortunate – Security analyst". Ghanaweb. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ^ "COP Dampare replaces Oppong-Boanuh as Acting IGP". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- ^ "George Akuffo Dampare sworn in as 23rd IGP - MyJoyOnline.com". MyJoyOnline. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "IGP'S FROM 1924 -2013". ghanapolice.info. Ghana Police Service. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Former IGP B.A. Yakubu is Dead". www.ghanaweb.com. 9 January 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Retired IGPs present document to Government". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Late IGP Charles Odartey Lamptey goes home today". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Photos: Rawlings mourns former IGP S. S. Omane". www.ghanaweb.com. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Owusu Poku Succeeds Nanfuri As IGP". ghanaweb.com. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "New IGP -Patrick Kwesi Kwateng Acheampong". ghanaweb.com. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "New IGP Appointed". www.ghanaweb.com. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Police Service gets new IGP". myjoyonline.com. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "President Mahama appoints acting IGP". GhanaWeb. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ^ "Mahama to swear in Kudalor as IGP today". GhanaWeb. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "PHOTOS: Kudalor sworn in as IGP". Graphic Online. 19 February 2016.
- ^ a b "John Kudalor finally retires as IGP (Photos)". citifmonline. 4 February 2017.
- ^ Isaac Yeboah (25 January 2017). "COP David Asante Apeatu is new IGP". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Limited. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Famous People - James Oppong-Boanuh". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "James Oppong-Boanuh confirmed as IGP". citinewsroom.com. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Oppong-Boanuh charges new IGP, leadership to be united as he retires". Ghana News Agency. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "George Akuffo Dampare sworn in as 23rd IGP - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "From Constable to acting IGP: Check out the inspiring profile of Dampare". citinewsroom.com. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ 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.