Commissioner of Police Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has been elected to serve a four-year term on the newly established INTERPOL Africa Committee. Her election marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first Ghanaian and the only female member of the committee.
As the sole woman on the body, COP Donkor’s inclusion reflects not only her distinguished career and leadership within the Ghana Police Service but also the growing recognition of the importance of gender inclusion in policing and global security governance.
“Being the first Ghanaian to serve on a regional committee of the world’s largest police organisation makes her a trailblazer for women in policing,” observers note.
The newly formed INTERPOL Africa Committee will play a crucial role in enhancing law enforcement cooperation across the continent. Its mandate includes identifying strategic crime-fighting priorities, proposing policies for the African Regional Conference, and advising on policing and criminality issues unique to Africa.
Other members elected for four-year terms include Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa, while Botswana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Sudan will serve two-year terms.
Speaking at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, COP Donkor highlighted Ghana’s advancements in fighting cybercrime. She underscored the role of the state-of-the-art Digital Forensic Lab of the Ghana Police Service, the only one of its kind in the country, in dismantling malicious digital infrastructures, recovering assets, and disrupting cross-border cybercrime networks.
She also referenced Ghana’s participation in Operation Serengeti, led by INTERPOL, which successfully dismantled criminal online infrastructures and led to multiple arrests.
“Ghana is proving that through innovation, partnership, and consistency, we can make our digital space safer for all,” COP Donkor emphasized.
Her election provides an opportunity for Africa to benefit from her expertise, dedication, and vision over the next four years — reinforcing Ghana’s leadership in global policing and strengthening continental cooperation against transnational organized crime.
By Peter Quao Adattor
