Government has allocated GHC4.8 million for the construction of a state-of-the-art police division block in Kumasi, a project aimed at addressing severe infrastructure deficits, eliminating cell overcrowding, and modernising security operations across the metropolis.
The project will replace nine pre-colonial police offices at the Central Police Station with a modern facility featuring six specialised holding cells and an executive conference room.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, announced details of the project on Friday, 25 September 2026, when the Ashanti Business Owners Association (ABOA) presented a GHC200,000 cheque to support the construction of temporary offices for police personnel whose current offices will be demolished to make way for the new complex.
The donation brings the total funds mobilised for the project to GHC410,000, out of an estimated GHC750,000 required for the temporary operational hub.
Severe Infrastructure Deficit
“At the moment, the Ghana Police Service is facing a severe infrastructure deficit in the Kumasi central area,” Mayor Boadi stated, explaining that rapid urban growth has stretched law enforcement resources.
“As population increases, the demands on the police also increase. To properly manage and prevent crime in our metropolis, we must put the appropriate infrastructure in place,” he said.
Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city and the capital of the Ashanti Region, has a population exceeding two million, according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census. The metropolis is currently served by only a handful of divisional and district police stations, a situation that has placed immense pressure on law enforcement capabilities.
The current infrastructure shortages regularly force the regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to transport suspects to distant cells in Sofoline and Asokwa, while severe cell congestion degrades living conditions, the Mayor noted.
Human Rights at the Forefront
A primary driver of the overhaul, Mr Boadi said, is protecting the basic human rights of suspects, whom the law presumes innocent until proven guilty.
Mr Boadi further stated that existing facilities lack designated holding areas for women and juveniles. He explained that the new six-cell layout will establish clear segregation based on gender, age, and offence severity, ensuring proper sanitary management for women and preventing minor offenders from mixing with hardened criminals.
“These are cells that were provided for us in the pre-colonial era, and we cannot continue living in these conditions,” the Mayor stated, adding, “When cells become overcrowded, the rights of suspects in custody are infringed upon. As a state, we need to provide the appropriate infrastructure so that the rights of suspects are upheld.”
This concern echoes broader national issues within the Ghana Police Service. A 2023 audit by the Ghana Audit Service found that the service has a large number of uncompleted and abandoned building projects, with the Police Administration failing to properly plan and make adequate budgetary allocations for its building projects. Additionally, the police-to-population ratio in Ghana stands at approximately 1:1,200, significantly below the United Nations standard of 1:500, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure investment.
Business Community Steps Up
The Executive Secretary of the Ashanti Business Owners Association (ABOA), Charles Kusi Appiah Kubi, said the group responded to a request from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) because security is paramount and serves as the foundation for development.
He stressed that tight security enables business owners to invest with confidence, noting that the government cannot build the city alone, a principle that guided ABOA’s decision to contribute GHC200,000 toward the project.
ABOA has a history of supporting KMA initiatives, having previously donated cleaning tools and funds for cleanup exercises ahead of the Asantehene’s 20th anniversary celebrations in 2019.
Support from Police Leadership
ACP Francis Kouame Somian, Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, commended the initiative by the KMA, led by Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, and appealed to others to contribute towards providing befitting offices for police personnel.
A Vision for Metropolitan Policing
Beyond physical infrastructure, Mr Boadi revealed plans to advocate for a dedicated Kumasi Metropolitan Police unit, modeled after London’s urban policing framework, to focus exclusively on city management.
The London Metropolitan Police, established in 1829, is one of the oldest and most influential police organisations in the world. The Mayor’s proposal signals an ambition to adopt a similar specialised approach for Kumasi, which would see a dedicated unit responsible for city-specific security and management issues.
Next Steps
The demolition of the nine old offices and ground-breaking for the GHC4.8 million complex will begin once the Assembly raises the remaining GHC340,000 needed to finalise the temporary operational hub.
Mayor Boadi has previously warned that excessive spending on sanitation — which consumed up to 90 percent of the KMA’s goods and services budget in 2025 — is draining funds needed for critical infrastructure projects, including the new police station. The KMA approved the modern Divisional Police Station project as part of its reviewed 2026 Annual Action Plan, despite a decline in grants.
The new complex, once completed, is expected to significantly enhance the Ghana Police Service’s capacity to maintain law and order in Kumasi, uphold the rights of suspects in custody, and support the city’s growing commercial and residential demands.
