Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, has been elected to serve a four-year term as a member of the newly formed INTERPOL Africa Committee.
Her election, which happened on Friday, August 29, 2025, marks a historic milestone, making her the first Ghanaian and the only female member of the committee.
It is also a recognition of her distinguished career and leadership in law enforcement, as well as a significant step forward for women in policing across the continent.
COP Donkor’s presence on the committee underscores the growing importance of gender inclusion in high-level security and law enforcement decision-making structures.
Her nomination reflects both Ghana’s leadership within global policing networks and her personal commitment to justice, accountability, and security.
In her speech she said: “You would all agree with me that although the challenges facing the world on the global scale are similar, the economic and social dynamics differ significantly from country to country. Therefore, tailor-made measures need to be put in place if law enforcement is to be used in curbing crime.
By joining the INTERPOL Africa Regional Committee, I hope to collaborate with lawmakers to strengthen regional cooperation by enhancing intelligence sharing and joint operations across African jurisdictions through the use of INTERPOL security capabilities,” she said.
The newly formed INTERPOL Africa Regional Committee will serve as a critical platform for strengthening law enforcement cooperation across the continent. Its responsibilities include identifying strategic priorities in the fight against crime, recommending policy directions to the African Regional Conference, and advising on issues of criminality and police cooperation specific to Africa.
Other countries represented on the committee include Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa, who were also elected for four-year terms, while Botswana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Sudan will serve two-year terms.
COP Lydia Donkor’s election cements Ghana’s reputation as an active contributor to international policing and marks a groundbreaking achievement for women in security leadership roles across Africa.
Source: citinewsroom.com
