Ghana’s COP Lydia Donkor elected to INTERPOL Africa Committee

The Ghana Police Service has celebrated Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), after her historic election to the newly formed INTERPOL Africa Committee.

In a statement shared on the Service’s official Facebook page, the Police confirmed that COP Donkor is the first Ghanaian to be elected to any regional committee of INTERPOL — the world’s largest police organisation.

She also emerges as the only female member of the Africa Committee, a milestone widely hailed as a landmark for gender inclusion and representation in international policing.

The Police Service praised her election as a recognition of both her personal accomplishments and Ghana’s broader contribution to global security:

“Her nomination is both a testament to Ghana’s leadership in global policing and a reflection of her personal commitment to justice, accountability, and security.”

Role of the INTERPOL Africa Committee

The Africa Committee, inaugurated this year, is tasked with:

Strengthening law enforcement cooperation across the continent,

Identifying strategic priorities in the fight against transnational crime,

Recommending policies to the African Regional Conference, and

Advising on issues of criminality and police collaboration within the region.

COP Donkor will serve a four-year term alongside representatives from Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. Other member states — Botswana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Sudan — will serve two-year terms.