The Director General in Charge of the Legal and Prosecution Division of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Nathan Kofi Boakye has bowed out of Ghana police service after 34 years of service
A ceremony to celebrate his 60th anniversary and thanksgiving service on Wednesday April 5, 2023 marked his last day as a police officer.
It was attended by members of the police management board, including the Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare, former inspector generals of police, Mohammed Alhassan, John Kudalor, and James Oppong Boanu, and other high-profile security officers.
The ceremony also attracted family members, friends and old school mates, home and abroad.
Commissioner of Police, Nathan Kofi Boakye was full of gratitude to all those who supported him during his and duty in the Ghana Police Service.
The brief ceremony gave attendees the opportunity to listen to his distinguished career journey over the 34 years.
“Today marks my return to civilian life, therefore it is only fitting that I acknowledge those who have made my police journey a little easier” he said.
COP Kofi Boakye, gained a nickname, ‘Commander One’, following his robust and sustained crime fighting spirit, taking the war to the armed criminals in the Ashanti region when he assumed duty as the regional commander.
He had exhibited similar crime-fighting spirit in the Accra regional police, Western and other regional commands across the country.
COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, in 2005 when he led officers from the Accra Region Command to arrest the notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi and some members of his gang, making him a household name in Ghana.
Enlistment
Commissioner of Police, Nathan Kofi Boakye was recruited into the Ghana Police Service as an under cadet in November 1989 with the rank of chief inspector.
COP Kofi Boakye, upon a successful training at the National Police Training School (NPTS) in Accra, got posted to Ashanti Regional Headquarters in Kumasi for practical attachment.
He later joined the 28th Cadet Officers Course at the Ghana Police Academy in Accra and was Commissioned into the Officer Corps in 1990 as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
COP Kofi Boakye, he rose through the ranks to COP on June 1, 2016, through his selfless dedication, loyalty and commitment to duty.
He served in various capacities and occupied various command positions in the Service and various international appointments with outstanding performance which consistently exceeded expectations.
Command positions
COP Kofi Boakye, held various command positions and appointments, including Director General, Research, Planning and Transformation, Director General, Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS) now Police Professional and Standards Bureau, (PPSB), Accra, Ashanti and Western Regional Commander, Director of Police Education and Training, Director General in charge of Operations at the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Accra Regional Commander, Accra Central Divisional Commander, Kpeshie Divisional Commander and
Striking Force Commander.
He was also at the Police Forensic Laboratory as a ballistic analysis before becoming the Deputy Commander Special Investigations Unit, at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters and the Commander of the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit at the CID Headquarters.
Academic Achievements
COP Kofi Boakye holds Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Ghana, Barrister of Law (BL) Ghana School of Law, Postgraduate Certificate in Police Administrations, University of Leicester, Master in Public Administration (MPA), University of Ghana, and Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (BSc, Hons-Upper Class Division), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Meritorious Awards
COP Nathan Kofi Boakye has also received various commendations and awards in his professional and academic life including Academic Honours on completion of Ghana School of Law 2008, where he was adjudged the overall Best Student, Mensah Sarbah Award, Best in Family Law, Best Male in Interpretation of Deed and Statute, Best Male in Conveyancing and Drafting.
He was also honoured by the Ashanti Regional Tourist Board for Security and Safety Support of Tourism Development.
Additionally, he received the International Millennium Medal 2015, for the achievement of Global Public Leadership and Development Excellence in Africa; African Humanitarian Awards 2016 by Ecclesiastical Bishops and Leaders Conference of Africa for Selfless, Dedication and Unparalleled Support in making our Communities a better place to live.
COP Kofi Boakye was also honoured with the KNUST NUGS Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award 2015 for unwavering support towards security of the University
Inventive
The profile also described COP Kofi Boakye as upright, a disciplinarian, visionary, team player, and a person who was committed to his job.
The attendees also heard that the critical achievements of COP Kofi Boakye in various command positions were dotted across.
The Inspector General of Police, Dr george Akufo-Dampare, conferred on COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, the Highest Police Medal for his meritorious Service to the Police Service, Ghana and the world.
He also presented a citation and others to him on behalf of the Police management board and the entire Police Service.
In his exhortation, the director of religious affairs at the police headquarters, DCOP very reverend father George Arthur, wish COP Kofi Boakye well in his retirement.
He exhorted him to open his doors to people who will be seeking his advise in any capacity but urged him never to limit his experience sharing to only successes he had chalked but also his failures so that they become useful lessons for the new generation.
According to him, those who plan for their retirement live well and longer whiles enjoying rest after years of dedicated service, Ghanaians to plan for the days they would no longer be called active workers in various capacities.
By Peter Quao Adattor
