Ghana Police, FBI Launch Intelligence Operations Training to Boost Crime-Fighting Capacity
By Eugene Nyarko Jnr. l Police Academy, Accra l May 11, 2026
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The Ghana Police Service has commenced a ten-day intensive Police Intelligence Operations Training Programme at the Police Academy in Accra as part of efforts to strengthen intelligence-led policing and improve the Service’s ability to combat sophisticated criminal activities.
The programme, organised in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is designed to sharpen the operational capabilities of officers in intelligence gathering, operational planning, undercover operations, threat identification, and proactive crime prevention.
The high-level training has brought together officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate and the Criminal Investigations Department as part of broader efforts to modernise policing and tackle increasingly sophisticated criminal networks operating within Ghana and across the sub-region.
Opening the programme, Director-General of the Police Intelligence Directorate, Peter Baba Atiniak, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening intelligence capabilities within the Service.
According to him, evolving crime trends demand advanced operational skills and intelligence-based approaches capable of detecting and disrupting criminal activities before they escalate.
“Crime is becoming sophisticated and requires in-depth knowledge and skills to nip crime in the bud,” COP Atiniak stated.
He explained that the training would equip participants with practical expertise in advanced intelligence operations and operational planning to support police leadership in detecting, preventing, and solving crimes more effectively.
COP Atiniak further stressed that the vision of the Ghana Police Service remains the transformation of the institution into a world-class police organisation driven by professionalism, intelligence, and operational excellence.
The Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Ghana, Rabia Qureshi, reaffirmed the United States Government’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Ghana.
She noted that emerging threats such as organised crime, violent extremism, gun trafficking, fraud syndicates, and transnational criminal networks require stronger intelligence systems and highly trained law enforcement personnel.
“Strong intelligence capabilities allow law enforcement agencies to move proactively rather than reactively,” she said.
Rabia Qureshi stated that the training would provide participants with practical operational tools used globally to identify threats, recruit intelligence sources, conduct undercover operations, and dismantle criminal networks before they cause harm.
She also underscored the importance of balancing technological intelligence with human intelligence in modern policing.
“Human intelligence remains one of the most effective tools in understanding intent, identifying emerging threats, and penetrating criminal organisations,” she noted.
Delivering the keynote address, Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, described the programme as a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between the Ghana Police Service and the FBI.
According to the IGP, the changing nature of crime globally requires police institutions to transition from traditional reactive policing to intelligence-led operational strategies driven by foresight, analysis, and preventive action.
“Intelligence-led policing is not merely a concept. It is a philosophy that prioritises information, analysis, and proactive decision-making in the fight against crime,” IGP Yohuno stated.
He explained that the Ghana Police Service under his leadership is prioritising intelligence-driven policing as the backbone of its operational strategy in response to evolving security threats, including cybercrime, organised criminal syndicates, and transnational crimes.
The IGP emphasised that the training was not just another capacity-building exercise but a strategic investment in the future of policing in Ghana.
He added that the selected officers were expected to return as “force multipliers” capable of strengthening intelligence gathering, improving analytical capabilities, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and driving innovation within the Service.
“The true value of this training will be seen in safer communities, disrupted criminal networks, and increased public confidence in the police,” he added.
IGP Yohuno also called for expanded collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and the FBI, including opportunities for more Ghanaian officers to receive specialised training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
According to him, exposure to world-class policing systems and intelligence methodologies would significantly strengthen institutional capacity within the Police Intelligence Directorate and other specialised units of the Service.
The training programme reflects growing international cooperation between Ghana and the United States in addressing complex security challenges, intelligence sharing, and strengthening modern policing systems.
