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, and employs over 30,000 officers across its 651 stations. The key functions of the Service are:
Prevention and detection of crime.
Apprehension and prosecution of offenders.
Maintenance of law and order.
Protection of life and property.
Contents
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 Habours 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) Christian Tetteh Yohunu. 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.
Regional divisions
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 effective and flexible service.
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
Marine Police Unit
In April 2011, the Ghana Police Service set up a special Marine Police Unit (MPU). The unit has amongst its duties policing operations related to the country's oil and gas industry, 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).
Mounted Squadron
On August 12, 2021, the Ghana Police Service launched a horse patrol operations as part of the Mounted Squadron Unit of the Ghana Police Service. This unit would be running patrol services in some selected part of Accra, Ghana.
Other
The Ghana Police Service has a women's soccer/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.
Inspector General of Police
The current head of the Ghana Police Service is Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohunu. He was sworn into office on March 14, 2025 after being appointed by the President John Dramani Mahama. He directly reports to the Minister of the Interior. He is also assisted in the day to day administration of the Service by the Schedule Officers and the Regional Commanders.
Ghana Police Ranks
Inspector General of Police
Deputy Inspector General
Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Chief Superintendent
Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Chief Inspector
Inspector
Sergeant
Corporal
Lance Corporal
Constable