The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has announced plans by the Ghana Police Service to establish a Real-Time Crime Centre powered by artificial intelligence (AI) before the end of 2025. 

He explained that the initiative was part of a broader agenda to transform the service into a smart and citizen-focused institution aimed at enhancing proactive policing and deepening public engagement to meet the complex demands of 21st-century security challenges such as cybercrime, terrorism and urban violence.

He made the announcement last Saturday, during the 2025 Conferral and Graduation Ceremony of the Accra Metropolitan University, where he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Honoris Causa, in recognition of his distinguished public service and leadership in national security.

He shared the honours with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, who also received an honorary doctorate for her contributions to digital innovation and inclusive development.

The colourful ceremony brought together dignitaries from security services, government, academia and families of students. It featured the conferral of academic degrees, special awards and prizes, and addresses from recognised alumni and the valedictorian of the graduating class.

Modern-day policing

IGP Yohuno, while delivering his acceptance speech on the theme: “The Evolving Role of the Ghana Police Service in a Modern Democratic Society”, reflected on the institution’s transformation from a colonial force to a democratic service, outlining how technology, community engagement, and accountability were reshaping the police service into a modern institution grounded in democratic values.

He revealed that the upcoming Real-Time Crime Centre will integrate CCTV feeds, emergency call data, and AI-powered predictive analytics to detect crime patterns, allocate resources efficiently, and prevent crimes before they occur.

“A mobile app will enable citizens to report incidents, monitor case progress, and receive timely safety alerts. Human Rights Impact Assessments will be standard before large-scale operations to ensure policing strategies respect community rights and minimise unintended harm,” he added.

Women empowerment

Mrs Obo-Nai dedicated the honour to women breaking barriers in STEM and leadership, describing it as a symbol of the possibilities when women push beyond both real and imagined boundaries.

Sharing her journey from an all-female household to internships in construction and electronics, she championed inclusion, insisting, “innovation without inclusion is incomplete”.

She dedicated the award to women lighting the path for others, urging society to “equip every girl with the confidence to question, to create new solutions, and to lead.

Values, academic titles

The Director for Legal Education and Appeals Court Judge, Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, urged graduates to embrace integrity, innovation and traditional and religious values as they navigated a rapidly evolving world.

“These principles, rooted in sacred texts, proverbs, cultural traditions, customs and practices, offer the best values to deal with today's problems. We shouldn’t see the sea or the ocean or rivers as a pool of water. They are the habitats for deities who have been with the almighty God for generations, from the beginning of the world, and if we recognise this, then we will not desecrate them with Galamsey, for example,” he said. 

He also encouraged responsible use of technology, particularly AI, and challenged them to be principled leaders, reminding them that their actions would shape the country’s future and societal transformation.

The Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, cautioned against the misuse of academic titles, emphasising that titles such as “Doctor” and “Professor” must be earned through rigorous academic work and not honorary conferments, drawing parallels with police ranks—one cannot jump from constable to Commissioner.

He said such titles carry academic weight and were regulated by law, warning the public to respect the integrity of academic ranks.

VC’s report

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Goski Alabi, presented a comprehensive report on the institution’s progress, announcing the addition of eight new academic programmes, including PhDs in Leadership and Sustainable Governance and Finance and Accounting.

She mentioned improvements in infrastructure, including an integrated learning management system with AI tutoring, plagiarism detection, and proctoring tools.

The university, she stated, was running three international projects, two funded by the EU, and had expanded its global presence with students from over 10 countries.

She also appealed for private universities to be included in the government’s free first-year tuition initiative.