In steel and silk: the Ceremonial Dress of Ghana’s IGP
When the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, steps out on the parade ground on ceremonial occasions, he is not merely a man in uniform: he is a repository of symbols, a living testimony of state authority meticulously stitched, polished and carried with intent.
On Ghana’s national and state ceremonial days — from State of the Nation (SONA), Independence Celebration, Police Memorial Day to guard-of-honour receptions — the IGP’s attire carries a strong meaning: each emblem and accessory carries meaning and history.
Even though he moves smart and quietly as has always been his nature, the dress itself warns onlookers to respect decorum, honour and vigilant service.
History
Historically, Ghanaian police uniforms, especially on ceremonial occasions such as state functions, independence celebrations or guard of honour parades, are not casual. These dresses are codified visual statements, steeped in discipline blending those with the Ghanaian culture.
The ceremonial ensemble or dress worn by the IGP and other service commanders — often referred to in military and policing circles as full dress or parade uniform — is among the most formal in the police style of dressing.
It serves a distinct purpose: beyond functional wear, it signals authority, continuity, legitimacy and formal respect in moments of national significance.
Ceremonial dresses date back to colonial days and have been worn by all former IGPs from Lieutenant Colonel H.W.M. Bamford, first colonial IGP (1924-1938) to the first Ghanaian IGP, E.R.T. Madjitey (1958-1964) to the current, Mr Yohuno. These are the same or similar attires used by all service commanders including the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) usually based on their colours and operations.
Elements of Ghana’s Ceremonial Dress
Atop the IGP’s head sits a peaked cap, its rigid visor trimmed with silver-tone oak leaf known in police parlance as laurel embroidery that signifies senior rank. The headgear signifies authority — an echo of British-inspired uniform traditions that have been adapted into Ghana’s own ceremonial parlance. The cap’s lines are crisp, its brim polished to a deep sheen, and it sits like a visual overture to the order that the rest of the attire represents.
Even though senior officers’ ceremonial attire typically includes a dark-coloured tunic or jacket worn over a crisp shirt, trousers matching the jacket’s hue, and a peaked cap — a symbol of command worn by police, the IGP’s ceremonial dress must usually stand out because he is the primus inter pares. He wears high-neck ceremonial dress with gorget affixed around it. Right on both shoulders are epaulettes holding the ranks of the IGP.
Rank and medals are displayed prominently on the chest, with dress accessories like lanyards and aiguillettes distinguishing him together with senior commissioned officers from other ranks.
Medals: History worn on the chest
Pinned to the left breast are the medals — small clusters of metal circles and ribbons that represent years of service, commendation and national recognition. Though the specific decorations worn by individual IGPs vary over time, medals on ceremonial uniforms serve as a narrative of personal and institutional achievements. Medals offer an embodiment of duty rendered and honours earned — symbols of both individual merit and collective history.
In Ghana’s ceremonial settings, medals elevate a uniform from mere clothing to a moving ledger of service: they are read silently by those who understand their language of sacrifice, leadership and solemn pledge.
During such important state functions, the IGP wears his medals on his left, close to the heart, signifying the importance of such achievements to him. In order of merit, the medals are arranged starting with national, sub-regional and international achievements.
The Aiguillette
Perhaps the most striking ornament in the ensemble is the white aiguillette draped over the shoulder. These braided cords — a feature of ceremonial dress for commissioned officers in Ghana’s security services including the police — do more than decorate. They are the images and symbols for on-duty ceremonial function, a tradition shared with all the services including the military.
The cords curl in gleaming loops against the dark fabric of the tunic, conveying readiness and formality. In motion, they sparkle with each step, translating the IGP’s presence and authority.
The Sash: a belt of ceremony
Across the torso, under the aiguillette and over the service coat, the sash forms a bold stroke of regimental colour. Historically, sashes were worn in battle and in court. Today, they are a ceremonial reminder of the wearer’s solemn charge. Gold or service-coloured sashes are reserved for senior ranks on parade and special occasions, representing an emblem of office as well as of honour. The sash works hand-in-hand with the slung or command sword.
It has been made in such a way that it enables the IGP to slunt his hand in an l-shaped manner, making it impossible for the sword of authority to fall off whether in sitting or standing position.
The Sword: Old Steel, New Symbol
By the IGP’s side hangs the ceremonial sword, sheathed and slung at a slight angle, its hilt polished to a soft gleam. While no longer a weapon of combat, the sword in ceremonial contexts is a storied emblem of authority and command. Drawing from colonial military dress codes — themselves rooted in battlefield symbolism — its presence in modern policing attire signals that the rule of law, and not lawlessness, is the power protected.
The sword is carried with acute respect during full dress parades — an artefact of pageantry that anchors the uniform’s formality. Its scabbard and knot are detailed with service-coloured accents that tie it visually to the rest of the ceremonial ensemble.
Boots: The Grounded Step
The final cornerstone of the ceremonial outfit is the polished black boots — often ankle-high and shined to a mirror finish. They are the quietest yet most essential part of the ensemble, grounding the wearer and completing the vertical line from head to heel. In ceremonial drill, their synchronized march punctuates the cadence of occasion, each drumbeat echoing off leather and lace.
Boots are more than functional footwear; they are the punctuation mark at the end of a line that reads: discipline, readiness, respect. What makes it even more significant is the gold plate talking affixed to the heels, signaling the entrance of one in authority.
Ceremonial dress as narrative
On Ghana’s ceremonial lawns and parade squares, the attire of the IGP is not an afterthought. It is a narrative device — one that tells stories of duty, institutional legacy and national pride.
To the casual observer, the white aiguillette, the gleam of medals, the weight of a sword and the sheen of boots may seem ornamental. But to those who serve and those who watch, they are the eloquent language of service made visible — a uniform not just worn, but lived.
So when next you see the IGP and Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) dressed in their full regalia at a state function following the President of the Republic at his left and right, know that they’re in their ceremonial dresses and also acting as the aide-de-camp (ADCs) of the President on that day as the service demands.
