EU Ambassador, IGP deepen partnership on policing and security

The European Union’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Rune Skinnebach, on Friday paid a courtesy call on Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno at Police Headquarters in Accra, as both sides sought to expand cooperation amid rising demands on the Ghana Police Service.

Discussions centred on the EU’s existing programmes that equip officers with modern skills in training, community policing, forensic investigations, cyber security, crime scene management and related capacity-building initiatives. These efforts form part of a broader EU commitment to help Ghana strengthen its internal security architecture and uphold the rule of law.

IGP Yohuno thanked the European Union for its sustained assistance and urged closer collaboration in priority areas. He specifically highlighted the need for intensified support in cyber security, counter-terrorism, specialised training and community policing—fields he said are critical to the Service’s ability to confront evolving threats.

Ambassador Skinnebach reaffirmed the EU’s readiness to remain a reliable partner. He stressed that the Union is committed to working with the Ghana Police Service to enhance professional policing standards and contribute to national and regional security.

The meeting builds on a wider pattern of EU engagement with Ghana’s security institutions. In recent years the Union has backed community policing initiatives in the northern border regions through the PEACE PROTECT project, which has trained hundreds of officers, supplied motorbikes and supported the construction of new police posts. It has also funded cyber-crime capacity building, digital forensics equipment and technical workshops aligned with international standards such as the Budapest Convention.

ADVERTISEMENT

Earlier in 2026 Ghana and the EU formalised a Security and Defence Partnership covering counter-terrorism, cyber security, border management and maritime security, reflecting the strategic importance both sides attach to stability in West Africa.

IGP Yohuno, appointed in March 2025 and later granted a two-year extension beyond the statutory retirement age, has prioritised intelligence-led operations, merit-based promotions and improved investigative standards. The courtesy call signals continued external support for these reforms at a time when the Service is addressing cybercrime, organised robbery networks and the need for stronger community trust.

Officials on both sides indicated that follow-up technical discussions are expected to translate the renewed political commitment into concrete training programmes and operational assistance in the months ahead.