According to Alhaji Iddi Sumaila, President of the Association of Bullion Operators Ghana (ABOG), banks in Ghana are anticipated to begin deploying armored bullion vans for cash-in-transit on July 1.
He does however admit that certain banks have failed to sign the relevant agreement with the ABOG.
“Banks will start utilizing armored cars and gold vans by July 1st. Regarding the robbery attack on a bullion van at Ablekuma in Accra on Thursday, June 22, which resulted in the death of a Police officer, he told Johnnie Hughes on the Sunrise show on 3FM on Friday, June 23.
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 to which the Bank of Ghana said it would not admit any substandard or soft-skinned Cash in Transit (CIT) vehicles into any of it’s 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 to issue threats not to escort any vehicle without the necessary protection for police officers.
Regarding the attacks at Ablekuma, the police issued a stern warning to the robbers behind the killing of the officer.
In front of a bullion van on security duties, the officer was shot multiple times at close range.
The sad incident followed an attempted robbery at the Star Oil Filling Station at Ablekuma Fan Milk, a suburb of Accra.
Four in number, the robbers are said to have followed the bullion van, which went to refill at the fuel station, where the shootout occurred.
“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.”
