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, GeorgeCaptain George Maclean
(1801–1847)
Administrator		1831184412–13 years[11]
2
Hill, CommanderCommander Hill
Governor		1844185914–15 years[11]
3
Glover, John HawleyCaptain John Hawley Glover
(1829–1885)
Commander		1859187313–14 years[11]
4
Baker, A. W.Captain A. W. Baker
Inspector-General		187318762–3 years[11]
5
Hay, James ShawSir Captain James Shaw Hay
(1839–1924)
Inspector-General		??—[11]
6
Grant, AlexanderAlexander Grant??—[11]
7
Bryden, CaptainCaptain Bryden??—[11]
8
McInnis, Edward BowaterLt. Colonel Edward Bowater McInnis
(1847–1927)
Inspector General of Constabulary		188618903–4 years[11]
9
Griffith, William BrandfordWilliam 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. Portrait Inspector General of Police Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1
Kitson, A. W.Major A. W. Kitson
(1862–1938)		1893191016–17 years[11]
2
Collins, E. V.E. V. Collins
(?–1917)
Inspector General of Police and Prisons		19101917 †6–7 years[11][12]
3
Bettington, Digby Rowland AlbemarleD. R. A. Bettington
Inspector General of Police and Prisons		191719246–7 years[11][12]
4
Bamford, Harry William MorreyLt. Colonel H. W. M. Bamford27 August 19243 January 193813 years, 4 months[13][11]
5
Nottingham, Eric CatoCaptain Eric C. Nottingham
(1891–1972)		8 October 193821 May 19445 years, 7 months[13][11]
6
Ballantyne, Richard Waverley HeadCaptain R. W. H. Ballantyne
(1896–1965)		21 May 194418 August 19484 years, 2 months[13]
7
Eckel, PercyCaptain Percy Eckel
(1892–?)		18 August 194825 May 19499 months[13]
8
Collens, Matthew Kirkham NeedhamMajor M. K. N. Collens
(?–1957)		26 May 194931 December 1957 †8 years, 7 months[13]
9
Alexander, Arthur LewinArthur Lewin Alexander
(1907–1971)		1 May 19588 October 19591 year, 5 months[13]
10
Madjitey, Erasmus Ransford TawiahE. R. T. Madjitey
(1920–1996)
First native Ghanaian Commissioner of Police		9 October 19598 January 19644 years, 2 months[13]
11
Harlley, John Willie KofiJ. 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. Portrait Inspector General of Police Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1
Harlley, John Willie KofiJ. W. K. Harlley
(1919–1982)		25 February 19663 September 19693 years, 6 months[11][13]
2
Yakubu, Bawa AndaniBawa Andani Yakubu
(1926–2002)		23 September 196912 June 19711 year, 8 months[14][13]
3
Ampaw, R. D.R. D. Ampaw14 June 197113 January 19726 months[6]
4
Cobbina, John HenryJ. H. Cobbina13 January 197229 September 19742 years, 8 months[11]
5
Ako, ErnestErnest Ako
(1923–2021)		30 September 19747 July 19783 years, 9 months[13]
6
Kwakye, Benjamin Samuel KofiB. S. K. Kwakye17 July 19784 June 197910 months[15][13]
7
Lamptey, Charles OdarteyC. O. Lamptey
(1930–2022)		5 June 197927 November 19795 months[16]
8
Kyei, F. P.F. P. Kyei27 November 19796 October 19811 year, 10 months[15]
9
Kugblenu, Raphael KpodoR. K. Kugblenu
(?–2015)		6 October 19819 March 19842 years, 5 months[17]
10
Omane, S. S.S. S. Omane
(?–2014)		9 March 198412 June 19862 years, 3 months[17]
11
Dewornu, Christopher KomlaC. K. Dewornu
Acting IGP 12 Jun 86 - 31 Oct 86		1 November 198631 December 19893 years, 1 month[13]
12
Kwofie, J. Y. AJ. Y. A Kwofie1 January 199030 September 19966 years, 8 months[13]
13
Nanfuri, Peter TenganabangPeter Nanfuri
(1942–2023)		1 October 199621 January 20014 years, 3 months[13]
14
Owusu-Poku, ErnestErnest Owusu-Poku22 January 200121 July 20015 months[18]
15
Owusu-Nsiah, NanaNana Owusu-Nsiah22 July 200123 March 20053 years, 8 months[13]
16
Acheampong, Patrick KwatengPatrick Kwateng Acheampong25 March 200528 January 20093 years, 10 months[19]
17
Mills-Robertson, ElizabethElizabeth Mills-Robertson
Acting IGP		28 January 200915 May 20093 months[13]
18
Quaye, Paul TawiahPaul Tawiah Quaye16 May 20091 February 20133 years, 8 months[20]
19
Alhassan, Mohammed AhmedMohammed Ahmed Alhassan
Acting IGP 5 Feb 2013 to 6 May 2013		7 May 20139 November 20152 years, 9 months[21][22]
20
Kudalor, JohnJohn Kudalor
Acting IGP 9 Nov 2015 to 18 Feb 2016		19 February 201625 January 20171 year, 1 month[23][24][25]
21
Asante-Apeatu, DavidDavid Asante-Apeatu25 January 201714 August 20192 years, 5 months[7][25][26][27][28]
22
Oppong-Boanuh, JamesJames Oppong-Boanuh9 October 20191 August 20211 year, 9 months[29][30]
23
Dampare, George AkuffoGeorge Akuffo Dampare8 October 202113 March 20253 years, 5 months[31][32]
24
Yohunu, Christian TettehChristian Tetteh Yohunu13 March 20251 year, 11 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. ^ a b Austin, Dennis; Luckham, Robin, eds. (1975). Politicians and soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (1st ed.). London: Cass. p. 304. ISBN 978-0714630496.
  7. ^ a b "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. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Former IGP B.A. Yakubu is Dead". www.ghanaweb.com. 9 January 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  15. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.
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