John Willie Kofi Harlley

He was born at Akagla in the Volta Region which was then administered by the French and English. He attended Presbyterian Schools at Boso and Akropong. He completed his elementary school education at Anloga Presbyterian School in 1936 and later enrolled into the Accra Academy where he had his secondary education from 1936 to 1939.[4][5][2]

He was an interpreter in ewe and twi at the district magistrate court, Accra. Then later at the Supreme Court of Ghana, before enlisting in the Gold Coast Police just a week before his 21st birthday in May 1940. He became an inspector in November 1952 and was selected for training at the Metropolitan Police College, Hendon (now Hendon Police College) in 1953. On his return to Ghana he progressed from the rank of assistant Superitendent of Police to become the commissioner of police in 1965.[5][6][7][8]

At the time of the February 24, 1966 coup d'état that removed the Convention People's Party government of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Mr. Harlley was the Inspector General of Police, making him the most senior police officer in the country. He was one of the eight members of the National Liberation Council government formed afterward.[9] He remained in his office as the head of the police force and in addition, was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs between 1967 and 1968.[10] On September 3, 1969, a Presidential Commission was formed. Mr. Harlley was one of the three members of the commission. This commission remained in place even after the handover to the democratically elected Progress Party government of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia. On August 7, 1970, the commission was replaced by an interim President, Nii Amaa Ollennu.[3]

• In 1970, he received an LL.D from the University of Ghana.

• Ghana-pedia webpage - Operation Cold Chop: The Fall Of Kwame Nkrumah
• Picture of Members of the National Liberation Council
• Gallery of Ghana Inspector Generals of Police