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Breaking barriers: Lieutenant Colonel Galley commands Military Police
Lieutenant Colonel Jacqueline Dela Galley has become the first woman to command the Ghana Military Police Unit, marking a milestone in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Lt. Col. Galley said her appointment, announced at the beginning of the year, came as a surprise.
“I was very happy. I was very excited because I was not really expecting it,” she said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, describing it as “a very nice New Year package.”
She said her family was equally delighted, particularly as the appointment coincided with her recent completion of a Master of Philosophy degree in Human Rights, Conflict and Peace Studies.
Lt. Col. Galley said her rise reflected years of deliberate gender mainstreaming within the GAF, supported by international frameworks and initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for women in uniform.
She said her journey into the military was unplanned, explaining that her interest was sparked while studying at the University of Ghana, Legon.
“I did not really know anything about the military, but I was privileged to be in the same class with some service persons. I liked the way they carried themselves. They were more disciplined… very focused, and that motivated me,” she said.
She said she applied after national service, completed the required training and was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces on September 7, 2008.
Lt. Col. Galley said she became the first female officer to be posted directly to the Military Police Unit from the academy, a decision facilitated by the then Commanding Officer of the Ghana Military Academy, Brigadier General Ishmael Ben Quartey.
“I told him later that he made the history,” she said. “His decision 19 years ago is manifesting today.”
Lt. Col. Galley said her early years in the Military Police involved administrative duties and investigations, including serving as a provost officer with the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire and commanding detachments across the country.
“Every course I went to shaped me. My principle is to come up with something. I don’t just go and sit there,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said she had balanced her career with family life and is married to Colonel Dominic Buah, with whom she has four sons.
“It didn’t disturb my work,” she said. “If you are supposed to produce something by 10 o’clock, it should be there.”
She said her husband’s understanding of military life had been critical to managing her responsibilities.
“He understands the system. He knows I must be there,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley rejected suggestions of tokenism, saying female officers who rose to leadership positions did so on merit.
“Women who get to the top merit it. They are qualified. They are experienced. Command has confidence in them,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said gender mainstreaming had allowed women to demonstrate their capabilities.
“When women were allowed to come out of their shells, they start doing wonders,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley advised young female officers to remain focused and committed to their oath of service.
“It was not a joke when you were taking that oath… That is why me, if you say, go here, I’m going,” she said.
On her priorities as Commander of the Military Police, Lt. Col. Galley said her focus would be on discipline within the Armed Forces.
“My immediate priority will be tailored towards my role. And that is enforcing discipline in the Ghana Armed Forces,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said all military deployments included briefings on human rights and rules of engagement, adding that violations were treated as individual misconduct.
“Anyone who goes contrary to that is dealt with,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said enforcing discipline could be unpopular but was necessary.
“If you are meticulously enforcing the law, you won’t have friends. Some people will call you wicked. But once you know you’ve done the right thing, you shouldn’t be bothered,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said relations with other security agencies remained cordial and cooperative.
“We are all doing the same thing – ensuring the security of the state,” she said.
Reflecting on her appointment, Lt. Col. Galley said it reinforced the importance of integrity.
“This appointment has made me realise that whatever you do, you are being watched. It’s good to do the right thing, even when nobody is watching,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley encouraged young Ghanaians to pursue their ambitions but remain resilient.
“Pursue your dream… But if you don’t get the opportunity, it doesn’t mean you are not good,” she said. -GNA
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The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished statesman and diplomat, has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama. They officially informed him of his passing.
The delegation, representing the Gbeho family, noted that it was culturally and diplomatically important to formally notify the President of the loss before making a public announcement of his death.
Ambassador Gbeho was a towering figure in Ghanaian and international politics. He served in many diplomatic missions, including New York. He was Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, and President (formerly Executive Secretary) of the ECOWAS Commission.
He was widely respected for his role in regional integration and his contributions to global diplomacy at the United Nations.
President Mahama expressed his condolences and shared reflections on Ambassador Gbeho’s contributions to the country, West Africa and the world.
Funeral details will be announced later.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has revoked all firearm permits in Ghana with immediate effect and announced a new registration process for all gun owners.
The minister made the announcement on Tuesday, June 23, at the information service department saying all individuals who currently hold licences to own firearms or sidearms must undergo a fresh registration process.
“From this afternoon, all permits that have been granted to any individual that you are holding a sidearm or firearm is hereby revoked,” Mr Muntaka said.
He explained that the government had identified gaps in the country’s firearm registration system and needed to introduce stricter measures to improve public safety.
“We are opening the window where everyone will have to come forward again to register or re-register the gun because we’ve changed the procedure,” he stated.
According to him, the government decided not to wait until the end of the year to make the changes because lives could still be saved within the next six months.
The Interior Minister said one of the new requirements would be mandatory mental health screening for applicants seeking firearm licences.
“We’ve seen that people with mental health have already gone through and have the sidearm. Now we are introducing mental health. Before we give you the sidearm, we have to be sure that you have the mental stability to hold the firearms,” he said.
Mr Muntaka also announced that applicants would be required to undergo drug tests before being granted licences.
“We’ve also realised that people who are on drugs are also holding their arms and they are legitimate because it’s been registered. Now you have to go through drug tests to be sure that you are not on drugs before you can hold sidearms,” he added.
The minister said the new measures form part of efforts by the government to tighten firearm control and prevent legally registered weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
He urged all firearm owners to cooperate with the new registration process once details of the exercise are announced.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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