Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on 6 January 2026 paid a historic working visit to the National Police Headquarters, where he addressed the leadership and personnel of the Ghana Police Service on national security, professionalism and the place of traditional authority in modern policing.
The visit, the first of its kind by a reigning Asantehene, was marked by a special Guard of Honour Parade mounted in his honour. Addressing officers at the parade ground, Otumfuo described the occasion as highly significant, saying it had brought him into what he termed the “engine room of national security”.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and the entire Police Service for their sense of duty, commitment and professionalism in maintaining peace, security and public order, despite increasingly complex and evolving security challenges.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II paid particular tribute to the sacrifices of police officers, noting that many remain on duty while citizens sleep and travel in safety. He stressed that such sacrifices must never be taken for granted and called for sustained public support and respect for the Service.
Tracing the roots of policing in Ghana, the Asantehene said law enforcement did not begin with colonial administration. Long before modern state structures, he noted, traditional societies relied on customary authority, shared values and moral discipline to maintain law and order.
He emphasised that effective modern policing must be anchored in public trust, cultural understanding and strong collaboration between the Police Service and traditional authorities. According to him, traditional leaders remain close to their communities and can play a critical role in intelligence gathering, conflict prevention and mediation.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II urged closer cooperation between the police and traditional institutions, arguing that national security is a shared responsibility that requires mutual respect and partnership.
In his response, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, described the visit as historic and unprecedented, saying it would remain permanently etched in the institutional memory of the Ghana Police Service.
He highlighted the deep historical connection between indigenous systems of governance and contemporary policing, noting that many modern policing principles are rooted in traditional methods of social regulation and community oversight.
Mr Yohuno thanked the Asantehene for his consistent support for the Police Service and his pivotal role in peace building and conflict resolution across the country. He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with traditional authorities as part of efforts to enhance community trust, intelligence-led policing and national security.
The visit ended with renewed calls for unity between state security institutions and traditional leadership in safeguarding Ghana’s peace and stability.