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Use fit for purpose vehicles in transporting cash – IGP after foiled robbery attack
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akufo Dampare, has renewed calls for using armoured vehicles in the transport of bulk cash following a foiled robbery attack on a bullion van on Tuesday.
The attack at the Industrial area in Accra left at least three persons with various degrees of injury who are currently on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
In a statement on Facebook hours after the attack, the IGP said, “Beyond the Police intervention, the armoured bullion vehicle used saved the lives of the officials and the Police officer on-board the vehicle even though the robbers fired into the van.”
According to the IGP, “It has, therefore, become necessary to re-echo the Police Administration’s call for all financial institutions in the country to resort to the use of such fit for purpose vehicles for their cash in transit activities.”
In June last year, following four rampant attacks on bullion vans across the country, the Police Service cautioned banks regarding cash transportation.
hen IGP, James Oppong Boanuh, directed banks to ensure that they procure fortified armoured vehicles to cart cash within the country.
He warned that the Service is ready to withdraw its regular escorts if the financial institutions fail to comply with the directive by the end of the month.
It seems not much has changed as the current IGP reiterates similar calls on the financial institutions as attacks on bullion vans rear its head.
The Police Administration commended the Police officer whose intervention foiled the robbery incident.
Four bullion vans attacked in the first half of 2021
The first half of 2021 recorded four bullion van attacks.
JoyNews checks reveal that the robbers bolted away with the cash on-board the vehicles in three of the incidents.
In two of the cases, the police officers escorting the van lost their lives.
On January 18, 2021, some highway robbers numbering about 10 attacked a bullion van travelling on a section of the Adansi Fomena road in the Ashanti Region, and an amount of ¢500,000 was stolen.
In broad daylight on March 1, 2021, a bullion van belonging to a popular bank was robbed on the Spintex Road at Baatsona near the Danpong Hospital by some armed men numbering about four, according to eyewitnesses.
The situation got worse in June as two bullion vans were attacked within three days.
The first incident happened on June 14, 2021, when a bullion van was attacked at Adedenkpo near James Town in Accra.
The Police officer escorting the van and a woman were killed, with the driver sustaining serious injuries. The robbers bolted with the money.
On June 17, 2021, the second attack occurred when a bullion van was attacked on the Winneba-Accra highway.
The unknown assailants shot at the van at the Okyereko and Dominase on the Winneba-Accra stretch.
Aside from the driver, the van was occupied by two police officers with an amount of ¢550,000 on board.
Fortunately, they escaped the gunshots and were rescued by the Winneba Divisional Police, who escorted them to Accra.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
