The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the most senior Police Officer in Ghana. The IGP is appointed by the
President of Ghana
The president of the Republic of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana, as well as commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. The current president of Ghana is Nana Akufo-Addo, who won the 2020 presidential el ...
acting in consultation with the
Council of State
A Council of State is a governmental body in a country, or a subdivision of a country, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or it may refer to a non-executive advisory body associated with a head o ...
. The IGP is the head of the Police service and is responsible for the operational control and the administration of the Police Service.
The IGP is a member of the Police Council. The first Ghanaian Police Commissioner,
E. R. T. Madjitey was appointed to head the service on October 9, 1958. The IGP is aided by two deputies as well as nine directors and a Chief Staff Officer.
Following the retirement of B. A. Yakubu as the head of the Police service, the
Progress Party government of
Kofi Abrefa Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia (born 11 July 1913 – 28 August 1978) was a Ghanaian political leader and academic who was Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972. As a nationalist leader and prime minister, he helped to restore civilian government to th ...
appointed
R. D. Ampaw, a lawyer civil servant as his successor.
On 22 July 2019,
Nana Akufo-Addo
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ( ; born 29 March 1944) is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the president of Ghana since 7 January 2017. In 2020, he was re-elected for his second term, which will end on 6 January 2025. Akufo-Addo previously ...
, President of Ghana asked
David Asante-Apeatu
David Asante-Apeatu (born 14 August 1959) is a Ghanaian forensic specialist and police officer. As of February 2017, he was the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Ghana Police Service. He is the 28th person to hold the position and the 22 ...
to proceed on leave as the IGP. His deputy,
James Oppong-Boanuh was asked to act as IGP until a substantive appointment was made.
Asante-Apeatu was due to retire within a month. 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.
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.
*
Captain George Maclean 1831 – 1844, Administrator
* Chief Frank Gilbert, Governor 1844–1859
*
Captain John Hawley Glover, Commander 1859–
* Captain
A. W. Baker, Inspector-General 1873–1876
* Sir Captain
James Shaw Hay, Inspector-General
* Alexander Grant
* Captain Bryden
* Lt. Colonel
Edward Bowater McInnis
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Bowater McInnis (15 March 1847 - 4 April 1927) was the Inspector General of Constabulary in the Gold Coast between 1886 and 1890. He was an officer in the British Army.
McInnis was first commissioned into the British a ...
, CMG, Inspector-General 1886–1890
* ''Force under control of the Governor 1891 - 1893''
Commissioner of Police (1893 - 1966)
The head of the Gold Coast Constabulary was the Commissioner of Police.
*
Major A. W. Kitson, 1893 – 1910
*
E. V. Collins, 1910 – 1917 COP/IGP
*
Digby Rowland Albemarle Bettington Digby Rowland Albemarle Bettington KPM was a Commissioner of Police in the Gold Coast.
He attended the United Services College in North Devon, United Kingdom between 1889 and 1897.
Bettington succeeded E. V. Collins following his death when the ...
1917 – 1924 COP/IGP
*
Lt. Col. H.W.M. Bamford OBE,
MC,
CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(27 August 1924 – 3 January 1938)
*
Capt. Eric C. Nottingham MC (8 August 1938 – 21 May 1944)
*
Capt. R.W.H. Ballantyne CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(21 May 1944 – 18 August 1948)
*
Capt. P. Eckel (18 August 1948 – 25 May 1949)
*
Maj. M.K.N. Collens CMG,
CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(25 May 1949 – 31 December 1949)
*
Arthur Lewin Alexander OBE (1 May 1958 – 8 October 1958)
*
E.R.T. Madjitey CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(9 October 1958 – 8 January 1964) - First Ghanaian Commissioner of Police
*
John Willie Kofi Harlley MOV (1 January 1965 – 24 February 1966)
Inspector General of Police (1966 onwards)
*
John Willie Kofi Harlley (MOV) - (25 February 1966 – 3 September 1969)
*
Bawa Andani Yakubu
__NOTOC__
Bawa Andani Yakubu, MV (1926 - 2002) was a police officer, politician and king. He was an Inspector General of Police in Ghana. He also served in the National Liberation Council (NLC) government. He was the Gushie-Naa or Gushie King u ...
(MOV) - (23 September 1969 – 12 June 1971)
*
R. D. Ampaw[ - (14 June 1971 – 13 January 1972)
* J. H. Cobbina - (13 January 1972 – 29 September 1974)
* Ernest Ako CV - DSO (30 September 1974 – 7 July 1978)
* Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye - DSG DSO (17 July 1978 – 4 June 1979)
* C. O. Lamptey - (5 June 1979 – 27 November 1979)
* F. P. Kyei - (27 November 1979 – 6 October 1981)
* R. K. Kugblenu - (6 October 1981 – 9 March 1984)
* S. S. Omane - (9 March 1984 – 12 June 1986)
* Christopher Komla Dewornu - (12 June 1986 – 31 December 1989)
* J. Y. A Kwofie - (1 January 1990 – 30 September 1996)
* Peter Tenganabang Nanfuri - (1 October 1996 – 21 January 2001)
* Ernest Owusu-Poku - (22 January 2001 – 21 July 2001)
* Nana Owusu-Nsiah - (22 July 2001 – March 23 2005)
* Patrick Kwateng Acheampong - (25 March 2005 - 28 January 2009)
* Elizabeth Mills-Robertson (acting) from 28 January 2009
* Paul Tawiah Quaye - (16 May 2009 – 1 February 2013)
* Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan - (5 February 2013 - 9 November 2015)]John Kudalor
John Kudalor is a Ghanaian police General was the Inspector General of Police under the John Dramani Mahama
John Dramani Mahama (; born 29 November 1958) is a Ghanaian politician who served as President of Ghana from 24 July 2012 to 7 January ...
- (19 February 2016 - 25 January 2017)David Asante-Apeatu
David Asante-Apeatu (born 14 August 1959) is a Ghanaian forensic specialist and police officer. As of February 2017, he was the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Ghana Police Service. He is the 28th person to hold the position and the 22 ...
Notes and references
External links and sources
Ghana Police Service websiteApril 2006 - Journal of Security Sector Management
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inspector General of Police
Police ranks
Police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and th ...
Ghanaian police officers
Ghanaian Heads of Security Services