INTERPOL ACCRA
Ghana joined INTERPOL in 1958. NCB/INTERPOL Accra is a Unit at the CID Headquarters.
Core Functions:
- Cooperate with INTERPOL General Secretariat and other National Central Bureaus on issues related to crime fighting.
- Make INTERPOL’s capabilities accessible to all national stakeholders in the fight against transnational organized crime.
- Extradition of fugitives.
- Host conferences and training courses organized by the INTERPOL General Secretariat and the INTERPOL Regional Bureau.
- Act as liaison between the General Secretariat and other National Central Bureaus on one hand, and other law enforcement agencies in the country on the other, in the fight against transnational organized crime.
INTERPOL Accra also has oversight responsibility over the following Units:
The West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS) – The WAPIS project was initiated in 2010 to create a common police-information system across West Africa to facilitate the sharing of criminal information on a timely basis within the region and the rest of the world, as well as enhance law enforcement cooperation in fighting transnational organized crime and terrorism in the sub-region. It is funded by the European Union and implemented by INTERPOL.
Data Collection and Registration Center (DACORE) –The DACORE is located at the CID Headquarters in Accra and it supervises the implementation of the WAPIS programme in Ghana.
The AFRIPOL Secretariat: AFRIPOL, the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation, was established in 2014 under the aegis of the African Union as an independent mechanism for police cooperation for Member States of the African Union. Its main objective is to establish a framework for police cooperation at the strategic, operational and tactical levels between Member States police institutions. AFRIPOL functions on the following principles:
- Respect for democratic rule, human rights, the rule of law and good governance in accordance with the Constitutive Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other relevant instruments;
- Respect of the Police Ethics, the principles of neutrality, sovereignty, integrity and the presumption of innocence.
Following an agreement signed between INTERPOL and the African Union in January 2019 to work together in tackling serious global crime, an online ceremony was held in April 2020, to launch INTERPOL’s operational working relationship with AFRIPOL,
The AFRIPOL Secretariat is located at the INTERPOL Unit of the CID Headquarters.
INTERPOL NCBs do not respond to requests from the general public. Anyone wishing to report a crime or provide information on an international investigation should contact their local or national police, who will in turn contact the NCB
INTERPOL – GENERAL OVERVIEW
Who we are: The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is an inter-governmental organization with 194 member countries. Our aim is to help police in all member countries to work together to make the world a safer place.
Who makes up INTERPOL? The General Secretariat coordinates the day-to-day activities to fight a range of crimes. It is run by the Secretary General, and staffed by both police and civilians. It comprises a headquarters in Lyon, a global complex for innovation in Singapore and several satellite offices in different regions.
In each country, there is an INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) which provides the central point of contact for the General Secretariat and other NCBs. NCBs are generally run by national Police Officers and operate under the same Ministry as the National Police. The General Assembly is the governing body and it brings all countries together once a year to take decisions.
What we do: The vision of INTERPOL is to connect Police for a safer world. To this end, The General Secretariat provides a range of expertise and services to its member countries and these include:
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- Management of 18 police databases with information on crimes and criminals (from names and fingerprints to stolen passports), accessible in real-time to countries.
- Offering investigative support such as forensics, analysis, and assistance in locating fugitives around the world.
- Training is an important part of what we do in many areas so that officials for various crime areas know how to work efficiently with INTERPOL’s services.
- Supporting national efforts in combating crimes across three global areas considered as the most pressing today ie terrorism, cybercrime and organized crime. Support provided includes investigative support, field operations, training and networking.
- Importantly, since crimes evolve, INTERPOL keeps an eye on the future through research and development in international crime and trends.
Contact with the public
Please visit the following websites for further information.
