[3][4] James Oppong-Boanuh was born at Aboabo No.1 in the Dormaa District in the previous Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana in 1958.
[3] He proceeded to the University of Ghana, Legon where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Political Science in 1982.
[3] Between from 1996 to 2000, he was the senior Legal Officer at the Ghana National Police Headquarters, advising the administrative body on issues relating to civil and criminal law.
[6][7] His extension of service was considered by the general public and the media as a ploy to force him unto the Police council as the next IGP.
In that role, Oppong-Boanuh led an advance team to establish the police unit of the mission from scratch.
[3][13] On 19 August 2010, he took up duties as Police Commissioner to the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) succeeding South African Major-General Michael Fryer who had retired.