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The Vice-Chairman of the Public Services Commission, Dr Irene Stella Agyenim-Boateng, has urged women in the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to continue to work hard alongside their male counterparts to maintain peace, ensure public safety and uphold the integrity of the nation’s security.
She said that across the length and breadth of the country—from border posts to patrol units, from intelligence desks to cybercrime units, and from administrative directorates to community policing—policewomen have remained resilient and courageous.
Dr Mrs Agyenim-Boateng was addressing members of the Police Ladies Association (POLAS) at the inauguration of the Accra Region branches of the association, comprising seven chapters, at a ceremony at the Cantonments Police Station in Accra.
The ceremony was on the theme, ‘Harnessing the collective talents and potentials of police ladies for effective policing’ at the Cantonments Divisional Headquarters.
She said their sense of professionalism, dedication and unwavering commitment to duty has inspired confidence and significantly advanced the cause of public safety in the country.
“Even under the most challenging circumstances, you not only exhibit competence and discipline, but also relentlessness. ‘Ayekoo’ to our gallant ladies of the Ghana Police Service”, she said.
According to her, this stands as a remarkable legacy of the forebears who took the bold decision in 1952—over 73 years ago—to recruit 12 women into the Police Force of the then Gold Coast.
The original aim of the inclusion of women in the force was to help address juvenile crimes and offences involving women. Currently, more than 13,671 women serve in the police service.
The Vice-Chairman noted that the theme speaks not only to the present, but also to the future of policing in an increasingly rapidly changing world.
“As we look ahead, it becomes convincingly clear that empowering police ladies is not merely a matter of fairness or fulfilling a gender equity commitment but a catalyst to sustainable progress of the Service”, she added.
The National President of the Police Ladies Association (POLAS), Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah, noted that there are more than 2,000 policewomen in the Accra Region alone. She explained that this necessitated breaking the membership into smaller groups for more effective management, hence the introduction of chapters to promote inclusiveness and efficiency.
She said POLAS is present in all 16 regions of the country, adding that regions with larger membership would be organised into chapters. She described the event as a significant milestone, reflecting the Association’s ongoing commitment to purposeful progress within the Ghana Police Service (GPS).
COP Addo Danquah further expressed grave concern about the high number of junior officers relative to senior officers, underscoring the need for senior officers to actively empower and mentor the younger ones.
Earlier, in a welcome address, the Regional President of the Police Ladies Association (POLAS), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Priscilla Eva Bempong, emphasised that the theme serves as a reminder to policewomen to build a stronger, more responsive, and professional association. She noted that it highlights the indispensable role women play in modern policing, bringing compassion, innovation, resilience, and strategic insight to the forefront of law enforcement.
ACP Bempong stated that the creation of localised chapters had made it easy to mobilise and organise members and also for ease of coordination and stronger fellowship.
She pointed out that the gathering was not just an inauguration but a renewal of collective dedication to teamwork, mentorship and service excellence.
She charged the new executives to develop programmes that would identify and nurture the unique talents within their chapters, to boost confidence and enhance effective policing.
