OUR HISTORY

Professional policing was introduced by the British Colonial Authorities to the Gold Coast now the Republic of Ghana in 1821. Prior to that, policing or maintenance of law and order was organized by the traditional authorities such as the local headsmen and chiefs, who employed unpaid messengers to carry out the executive and judicial functions in their respective communities.

In 1894, the Institution of Police was formalized with the passing of the Police Ordinance which gave legal authority for the formation of a Civil Police Force now the Ghana Police Service

The Ghana Police Service as it is now called has as its motto “Service with Integrity”.  The functions of the Ghana Police Service as stated in the Police Service  Act, 1970 [Act 350] of Ghana are as follows;

• Crime detection and prevention
• Apprehension [arrest] and prosecution of offenders
• Maintenance of law and order
• Due enforcement of the law

Professional policing was introduced by the British Colonial Authorities to the Gold Coast now the Republic of Ghana in 1821. Prior to that, policing or maintenance of law and order was organized by the traditional authorities such as the local headsmen and chiefs, who employed unpaid messengers to carry out the executive and judicial functions in their respective communities.  In 1894, the Institution of Police was formalized with the passing of the Police Ordinance which gave legal authority for the formation of a civil police force.

In 1902 the force was split into General, Escort, Mines and Railway Police, which was legalized by the Police [Amendment] Ordinance of 1904.

The Marine Police was formed in 1916 but disbanded in 1942 and replaced by Customs Excise and Preventive Service.  The Criminal Investigation Department [CID] was formed in 1921 with the finger print section fully operational in 1922. In 1948, the Police Reserves Unit was formed to combat riotous mobs, following the 1948 riots in the country. The wireless and Communications Unit was formed in 1950 with the formal opening of the Police Information Room in Accra by the then Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Charles Noble Arden Clark, in June 1950.

By 1952, a large number of Africans were enlisted into the Police Force as junior officers.  The women branch of the service was then established, to be responsible for Juvenile crimes and offences committed by women.  In 1958, the first Ghanaian Police Commissioner, Mr. E. R. T. Madjitey was appointed to head the service.

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.

GERMAN EMBASSY DONATES

The German Embassy in Accra and the Goethe Institute has donated musical instruments worth €8000 to the Ghana Police Central Band.

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.