Banks are anticipated to begin utilising armoured bullion vans on July 1 – President of ABOG

The President of the Association of Bullion Operators Ghana (ABOG), Alhaji Iddi Sumaila has said that banks in Ghana are expected to start using armoured bullion vans for cash-in-transit from July 1.

He however reveals that some of the banks are yet to finalize the agreement with the ABOG to that effect.

“By 1st of July we will see banks using armored vehicles/bullion vans. However, other banks have not finalized the agreement with us,” he told Johnnie Hughes on the Sunrise show on 3FM Friday June 23 regarding the robbery attack on a bullion van at Ablekuma in Accra on Thursday, June 22, killing a Police officer in the process.

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.”