The Ghana Police Service (GPS) is the main law enforcement agency in Ghana. The service is under the control of the Ghanaian Ministry of the Interior and employs over 30,000 officers across its 651 stations. 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.
An additional division, the Marine Police Unit, exists to handle issues that arise from the country’s offshore oil and gas industry. The current head of the Ghana Police Service is Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare.
The Ghana Police Service has a women’s 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
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.
Apart from the National Police Headquarters, all the regional divisions have subdivisions under them. The aim of this is to decentralize the activities of the regional police force for more effectiveness and flexibility.
Special units:
There are, furthermore, specialized police units in all the regional divisions. The Regional Commander has oversight over these units. These units include:
- 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
Ghana Police Services News Today
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