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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
Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku, has expressed deep sorrow following the sudden passing of Isaac Batsa, the constituency secretary for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker issued a statement on Tuesday reacting to the news, which has shocked the local political community.
Mr.Awuku praised the late NDC secretary for his bipartisan approach to local governance.
He noted that despite their different political affiliations, Batsa consistently rose above party lines to serve the constituency with diligence.
The MP revealed that the news was particularly shocking given that he had last interacted with Batsa just three days prior on Saturday.
Concluding his statement, Sammy Awuku extended his heartfelt condolences to Batsa’s family, the constituency and regional executives, and the entire NDC fraternity, wishing the deceased peaceful eternal rest.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Attorney General charges Chairman Wontumi and two others over alleged GH¢18.7 million Ghana Exim Bank fraud
The Office of the Attorney General has charged Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and two others over the alleged fraudulent acquisition of funds from the Ghana Export-Import Bank for a farming project.
The charges were brought against Chairman Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is currently at large, and Wontumi Farms Limited.
According to court documents released by the Attorney General’s office, Chairman Wontumi, identified as the first accused person, allegedly approached the Ghana Exim Bank in January 2018 for financial support to undertake a large-scale farming project.
The prosecution said he applied for a GH¢19 million facility on behalf of Wontumi Farms Limited and claimed that the company had secured a 100,000-acre parcel of land for the proposed farming venture.
The Attorney General alleged that documents submitted together with the application contained false information.
According to the prosecution, one of the documents presented as a board resolution letter was dated January 23, 2018, but referred to a board resolution supposedly passed on December 9, 2017, four days before the company was officially incorporated on December 14, 2017.
The prosecution further stated that the accused persons also submitted a project proposal claiming that 2,500 hectares of the proposed farm would employ about 6,000 families, representing nearly 38,000 individuals.
Court documents indicate that the Ghana Exim Bank later approved an GH¢18.7 million facility made up of loans and grants for the project.
The facility was reportedly intended for the purchase of agricultural machinery, working capital, staff costs and consultancy services.
According to investigators, the bank disbursed more than GH¢14.3 million to the company between January and March 2018.
However, investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office of the Attorney General allegedly found that the proposed farming activities were never carried out.
The prosecution said the accused persons neither purchased the agricultural machinery nor secured the land they claimed to own for the project.
Investigators also alleged that Chairman Wontumi later submitted a document to the bank as proof that the company had purchased agricultural machinery worth GH¢4 million.
However, investigations reportedly established that the document was originally a pro-forma invoice from KAS-SAMA Enterprise and not an actual receipt.
According to the Attorney General’s office, the inscription “Pro-forma Invoice” was allegedly altered and replaced with the word “Receipt” before it was submitted to the bank.
The prosecution further alleged that Chairman Wontumi withdrew large sums from the company’s accounts and used the funds for personal expenses and investments in other businesses.
The Attorney General stated that attempts by the bank to recover the money were unsuccessful.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office reportedly began investigations into the matter in March 2025.
Chairman Wontumi was later arrested, cautioned and officially charged on May 14, 2026.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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