Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Ghana’s Police Service, has been elected to a four-year term on the newly established INTERPOL Africa Regional Committee, becoming the first Ghanaian—and the only woman—to hold a seat on the body.
The election, held Friday, August 29, 2025, marks a notable milestone in both Ghanaian and continental policing history. The committee, designed to enhance regional cooperation and coordinate cross-border law enforcement efforts, brings together senior policing figures from across the continent.
COP Donkor’s appointment underscores Ghana’s increasing influence within international policing frameworks and signals growing momentum for gender representation in global law enforcement leadership.
“The challenges facing the world may be global, but our economic and social realities differ,” Donkor said during her remarks. “Law enforcement must be context-specific. Through this committee, I intend to work with colleagues to enhance regional collaboration, focusing on intelligence sharing and joint operations under INTERPOL’s framework.”
Donkor’s election also highlights her nearly three-decade career in law enforcement, defined by her work in organized crime, transnational investigations, and institutional reform. Her presence on the committee is seen by analysts as a strategic win for Ghana and a step forward for female leadership in a sector traditionally dominated by men.
The INTERPOL Africa Regional Committee is tasked with identifying strategic priorities in combating organized and transnational crime, offering policy recommendations to the African Regional Conference, and advising on criminal trends specific to the continent.
Alongside Ghana, member countries elected for four-year terms include Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. Botswana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Sudan will serve two-year terms.
Donkor’s appointment adds to Ghana’s growing role in global security architecture and comes amid calls for broader African representation in global decision-making forums. Her election is also viewed as a symbolic breakthrough for women in policing roles across Africa, where senior leadership positions remain disproportionately male.
