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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement on Facebook hours after the attack, the IGP said, \u201cBeyond 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the IGP, \u201cIt has, therefore, become necessary to re-echo the Police Administration\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In June last year, following four rampant attacks on bullion vans across the country, the Police Service cautioned banks regarding cash transportation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then IGP, James Oppong Boanuh, directed banks to ensure that they procure fortified armoured vehicles to cart cash within the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Akuffo Dampare assured the public that the Police have intensified efforts to get the perpetrators arrested to face justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will surely get them,\u201d the IGP said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Police Administration commended the Police officer whose intervention foiled the robbery incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four bullion vans attacked in the first half of 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first half of 2021 recorded four bullion van attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n kumasionlineNews<\/strong>\u00a0checks reveal that the robbers bolted away with the cash on-board the vehicles in three of the incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In two of the cases, the police officers escorting the van lost their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u00a2500,000 was stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The situation got worse in June as two bullion vans were attacked within three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first incident happened on June 14, 2021, when a bullion van was attacked at Adedenkpo near James Town in Accra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Police officer escorting the van and a woman were killed, with the driver sustaining serious injuries. The robbers bolted with the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 17, 2021, the second attack occurred when a bullion van was attacked on the Winneba-Accra highway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The unknown assailants shot at the van at the Okyereko and Dominase on the Winneba-Accra stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from the driver, the van was occupied by two police officers with an amount of \u00a2550,000 on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, they escaped the gunshots and were rescued by the Winneba Divisional Police, who escorted them to Accra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n