FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY - FSL
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) of the Ghana Police Service was established to provide scientific support to criminal investigations. It is the only Forensic Laboratory for the Ghana Police Service and as such caters for all the ten regions in Ghana. The unit is under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. The FSL is divided into five (5) main sections namely Chemistry/Drugs Analysis, Document Examination, Photography, DNA and Ballistics/Firearms.
Contact Address:
FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 505
ACCRA
History
The present day Forensic Science Laboratory started as a small Crime Scene Unit at the Police Training School in Tesano, Accra; by a British Expatriate Superintendent of Police Mr. B. S. Holloway in 1948. The area of work was mainly taking of photographs and lifting of fingerprints at crime scenes as well as the preparation of criminal records for convicted criminals. A Crime Laboratory was created by Mr. B. S. Holloway in 1963 consisting of the following sections;
In 1964, Superintendent Mr. B. S. Holloway retired and left for Britain, his home country. His Ghanaian assistant Mr. Tamakloe took over and moved the newly created Crime Laboratory to Accra Central Police Station but it was located in the premises of the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation with the CID/HQRS Annex.
In August 1966, Mr. Tamakloe again moved the Crime Laboratory with all the sections with the exception of the fingerprint section to the current location at KLUVIA CLOSE, OLUSEGUN OBASANJO HIGH STREET. The fingerprint section remained in Accra Central until it was relocated to the 3rd floor of the CID/HQRS building on the Ring Road Central, Cantonments.
The name was changed to Forensic Science Laboratory in 1999 under the headship of Mrs. Joana Osei – Poku and during the tenure of the then Director General/CID Mr P. K. Acheampong.
Current State
The Forensic Science Laboratory has over the years has undergone various transformations in a quest to reach international standards. The most recent commissioned on December 16, 2011 was a Three Million Euro support from the European Union under the EU-Ghana Police Project. The FSL received a tremendous facelift under this project. This included expansion of the physical structure of the FSL, acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and also materials for all the sections. The support also brought an evolution of the Serology section into a fully-fledged operational forensic DNA section, the first of its kind in the West African sub region.
Sections
Chemistry | Drug Analysis Section
The Chemistry/Drug Analysis Section examines seized materials suspected to be narcotics. It receives an average of about 800 cases annually. Additionally, the section conducts chemical analysis such as;
This has greatly improved the work of the unit in terms of quality and speed.
On the international level the chemistry section is a regular participant in the bi-annual International Collaborative Exercise (ICE) organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as a proficiency testing tool. We are proud to state that our results are very high and consistent an indication of our classed status.
Ballistic|Firearms
The Ballistic Section assists Criminal Investigations with evidence related to firearms and ammunitions. Based on evidence collected the section can provide various answers including;
The Ballistic section can boast of a 20X7m state-of-the-art Shooting Range, a comparison microscope, a bullet trap or catcher and an ammunition velocity determinant gadget.
Document Examination
The section examines documents to provide answers for documents in disputes.
The scope of its work includes;
The section works with sophisticated modern instruments like the; Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) and Electrostatic imaging system for detecting indented impressions on documents (ESDA). The section works on a lot of cases for the police and the general public as well as the courts in Ghana thereby generating funds for the state. The current fee for examination (civil cases) is One thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC1,000).
Photography Section
Being the oldest section of the laboratory, the photography part of the lab among its functions assists all the other sections of the laboratory to document evidence in pictorial form. The section also assists the Crime Scene unit in processing scenes of crime. Another important function of the unit is the production of Identity Cards for the Ghana Police Service. The unit is equipped with a Digital photo minilab system.
DNA Section
Formerly the Serology Section, the DNA section as mentioned earlier was created under the EU-Ghana Police Project and it is fully operational. The Section is equipped with a 7500 Real-Time PCR, 9700 GeneAmp thermal Cyclers, and 3500 Capillary Electrophoresis Apparatus among others. The analysis handled by the section varies from Relationship (paternity, Siblingship) testing to Forensics (criminal cases). Plans are underway to get a national database to enhance criminal investigations. The current fee for Relationship Testing is One Thousand and five hundred (GHC1,500) and above depending on the number subjects involved the request.
All the various sections of the laboratory are opened to both the Police and the general public and their services can be accessed through the Director General CID at the Headquarters in Accra.
LATEST NEWS
EVENTS
1 - 8
<
>
IGP INDUCTED INTO OFFICE
The IGP, Mr David Asante-Apeatu has been officially inducted into office at a colourful service at the Ghana Police Church on 23rd April.
Read More
GERMAN EMBASSY DONATES
The German Embassy in Accra and the Goethe Institute has donated musical instruments worth €8000 to the Ghana Police Central Band.
Read More
NATIONAL POLICE COMMAND CONFERENCE - TRANSFORMING THE GHANA POLICE SERVICE INTO A WORLD CLASS POLICE - THE ROLE OF REGIONAL COMMANDERS
IGP AT AGBOBLOSHIE, ACCRA
The IGP has visited one of the victims of the recent clashes at Agbogbloshie in Accra who was still on admission at the Korle Bu.
Read More
Get in Touch
LATEST TWEETS
follow us online
A representative is waiting to hear from you.
GPS Headquarters
Ring Road East,
Cantonment,
Ghana
Telephone:
+233 302 779300
+233 302 779302-5
eMail
info@police.gov.gh
Ghana Police Service © 2017 | Privacy Policy | WebMail
Site design by eSolutions ConsultingTM