The President of the Association of Bullion Operators Ghana (ABOG), Alhaji Iddi Sumaila has disclosed that banks in Ghana are expected to start using armored bullion vans for cash-in-transit from July 1.
He further explained that with the new step taken to reduce the attacks on bullion vans, some banks are yet to meet the ABOG for a consensus.
“By the 1st of July, we will see banks using armored vehicles/bullion vans. However, other banks have not finalized the agreement with us,” Mr. Sumaila revealed in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on 3FM regarding the robbery attack on a bullion van at Ablekuma in Accra on Thursday, June 22, killing a Police officer in the process.
He further revealed that “We have about 150 bullion vans in the country. Most banks have signed contracts with us to deploy to them. It goes through a process for the banks to get it and that takes time.”
It is recalled that the central bank, in 2021 issued a directive for all financial institutions to procure the protective sophisticated vans failure of which the Bank of Ghana said it would not admit any substandard or soft-skinned Cash-in-Transit (CIT) vehicles into any of its premises nationwide.
This deadline was however extended to July 1, 2023, just after the James Town robbery attack on a Bullion Van in which a police officer was killed and another by- stander was hit with a stray bullet.
The series of robbery attacks on officers accompanying sub-standard vehicles for cash transfers forced the Inspector General of Police(IGP) to issue threats not to escort any vehicle without the necessary protection for police officers.
Meanwhile, the police in a statement on June 22, 2023, stated that they are currently on a manhunt to arrest the robbers as they have issued a stern warning to them.
“The police are on a manhunt to arrest a gang of four robbers who attacked a bullion van at Ablekuma Fanmilk, a suburb of Accra, and shot the police escort who has unfortunately passed on,” a statement from the police said.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of our deceased colleague in particular and all personnel of the Police Service in general.
“We wish to assure the public that we will surely get the robbers arrested to face justice.”
