Ghana Police Service

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.

Ghana Police Service
Ghana Police Service patch depicting the service logo
Logo of the Ghana Police Service
Shield of the Ghana Police Service
Common nameGhana Police Service
AbbreviationGPS
MottoService With Integrity
Agency overview
Formed1894
Preceding agencies
  • 1894 – 1957: known as the Gold Coast Police Force
  • 1957 – known as the Ghana Police Service
Employees32,684 (30 June 2011)
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyRepublic of Ghana
Operations jurisdictionRepublic of Ghana
Map of Ghana Police Service's jurisdiction.
Size238,530 square kilometres (92,098 sq mi)
Population24,233,431
Governing bodyGovernment of Ghana
Constituting instruments
  • Police Act 1904
  • Police Act 1960
  • Police Act 1970
  • Policing Act 1992
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersAccra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Sworn members23,684 (30 June 2011)
Unsworn members9,000 (30 June 2011)
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Units
Regions
Facilities
Stations651+
Website
www.police.gov.gh
[1]

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) James Oppong-Boanuh.[1] 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
External video
Police Drills

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

Marine Police Unit

In April 2011, the Ghana Police Service set up a special Marine Police Unit (MPU).[4] 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).[5]

See also

References
  1. "Police Service gets new IGP". Joy Online. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  2. "The Ghana Police Service". MINT.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  3. "POLICE ADMINISTRATION". GhanaPolice.info. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  4. "Ghana Police Service sets up Marine Police Unit". ModernGhana.com. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  5. "Marine Police Unit re-launched in Takoradi". ModernGhana.com. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
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