Ghana Police Service

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Ghana Police Service
Ghana Police Service
	Ghana Police Service patch depicting the service logo
	Logo of the Ghana Police Service
	Shield of the Ghana Police Service
Common name	Ghana Police Service
Abbreviation	GPS
Motto	Service With Integrity
Agency overview
Formed	1894
Preceding agencies	1894 – 1957: known as the Gold Coast Police Force; 1957 – known as the Ghana Police Service;
Employees	32,684 (30 June 2011)
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	Republic of Ghana
Operations jurisdiction	Republic of Ghana
	Map of Ghana Police Service's jurisdiction
Size	238,530 square kilometres (92,098 sq mi)
Population	24,233,431
Governing body	Government of Ghana
Constituting instruments	Police Act 1904; Police Act 1960; Police Act 1970; Policing Act 1992;
General nature	Local civilian police;
Operational structure
Headquarters	Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Sworn members	23,684 (30 June 2011)
Unsworn members	9,000 (30 June 2011)
Minister responsible	Henry Quartey, Minister for Interior;
Agency executive	COP George Akuffo Dampare, Inspector General of Police;
Departments	18 • Administration ; • Criminal Investigation ; • Finance ; • Human Resource ; • ICT ; • Legal & Prosecution ; • Motor Traffic & Transport Unit ; • National Operations ; • National Patrol Department ; • National Protection Directorate ; • Police Intelligence Directorate ; • Police Professional Standard Bureau ; • Public Affairs ; • Research, Planning & Transformation ; • Services ; • Special Duties ; • Technical ; • Welfare ;
Regions	10 Ashanti ; Brong-Ahafo ; Central ; Eastern ; Greater Accra ; Northern ; Upper East ; Upper West ; Volta ; Western ;
Facilities
Stations	651+
Website
	www.police.gov.gh

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,^[2] and employs over 30,000 officers across its 651 stations.

Organisational structure

The Ghana Police Service operates in twelve divisions: ten covering the ten regions of Ghana, one assigned specifically to the seaport and industrial hub of Tema, and the twelfth being the Railways, Ports and Harbours Division.^[3] An additional division, the Marine Police Unit, exists to handle issues that arise from the country's offshore oil and gas industry.^[3]

The current head of the Ghana Police Service is Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare.^[4] For each of the regional police divisions, there is a Regional Commander who is in charge of all operational and administrative functions under his jurisdiction. In direct operational matters, the Regional Commander furthermore works in tandem with the Regional Operational Commander. For administrative functions, the Regional Commander is assisted by the Deputy Regional Commander and the Regional Crime Officer. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police is assisted by the Director-General of the Police Administration, and supervises the activities of the regional commanders of police.^[3]

Regional divisions

Apart from the National Police Headquarters, all the regional divisions have subdivisions under them.^[3] The aim of this is to decentralize the activities of the regional police force for more effective and flexible

Special units

There are, furthermore, specialized police units in all the regional divisions. The Regional Commander has oversight over these units. These units include:^[3]

Arms and Ammunition
Audit Offices
Courts and Prosecution
Crime Offices
Domestic Violence and Victim Support
Finance Offices
Highway Patrol Unit
Mobile Force (in eight regions)
Motor Traffic and Transport Unit
Police Training Schools (in five regions).
Public Affairs Directorate
Rapid Deployment Force
Mounted Squadron^[5]

Marine Police Unit

In April 2011, the Ghana Police Service set up a special Marine Police Unit (MPU).^[6] The unit has amongst its duties policing operations related to the country's oil and gas industry,^[3] and the handling of offenses contained in the Fisheries Act 2002 and Fisheries Regulations 2011.

The Marine Unit was inaugurated in Takoradi on 21 June 2013 by Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur. The unit operates two 9-meter patrol boats (P1 & P2) and four 6.3-meter rigid inflatable boats (P3, P4, P5 & P6).^[7]

Mounted Squadron

On August 12, 2021, the Ghana Police Service launched a horse patrol operations as part of the Mounted Squadron Unit of the Ghana Police Service. This unit would be running patrol services in some selected part of Accra, Ghana.^[8]

Other

The Ghana Police Service has a women's soccer/football club called the Police Ladies Football Club, which was formed in 2007. The club plays in the Ghana Women’s Premier League, the first tier women's football league.^[9]^[10]

Inspector General of Police

The current head of the Ghana Police Service is Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare.^[1]^[11]

Ghana Police Ranks

Inspector General of Police
Deputy Inspector General
Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Chief Superintendent
Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Chief Inspector
Inspector
Sergeant
Corporal
Lance Corporal
Constable

Gallery

Ghana Police Service badge.
Ghana Police Service officers and academy.
Ghana Police Service Mowag Piranha I 8x8, MOWAG Roland and Mowag Piranha I 4x4.
Ghana Police Service motorcycles and despatch riders.
Police Unit (MPU) patrol boat P2.
Facilities at the Ghana Police College, in Accra

References

^ ^a ^b "Police Service gets new IGP". Joy Online. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
^ "The Ghana Police Service". MINT.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "POLICE ADMINISTRATION". GhanaPolice.info. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
^ "Ghana Prez appoint C.O.P Akuffo Dampare as new acting IGP". BBC News Pidgin. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
^ "Police begins horse patrol operations". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
^ "Ghana Police Service sets up Marine Police Unit". ModernGhana.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
^ "Marine Police Unit re-launched in Takoradi". ModernGhana.com. 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
^ "Acting IGP launches Horse Patrol Operations - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
^ Koranteng, Daniel (7 October 2021). "Watch how Police Ladies unveiled their new star in style [VIDEO]". Citi Sports Online. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
^ Larweh, Kwame (11 October 2021). "Police Ladies, Naija Ratel FC draw goalless:In opening of Flying Officers Cup". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Limited. Archived from the original on 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
^ Online, Peace FM. "Kudos, Dr. Dampare! You're Doing A Good Job!! - Nana Akomea Praises IGP". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.