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
Then 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.
Dr Akuffo Dampare assured the public that the Police have intensified efforts to get the perpetrators arrested to face justice.
“We will surely get them,” the IGP said.
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.
kumasionlineNews 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.
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