Mahama Pledges GH₵1 Billion to Upgrade Security Services

President John Dramani Mahama has announced a government commitment to allocate GH₵1 billion towards retooling Ghana’s security agencies, a move aimed at improving their operational readiness and logistical support.

Addressing personnel from the security services, President Mahama acknowledged the tough conditions under which many officers operate and emphasized his administration’s resolve to provide the necessary tools for effective service delivery.

“I’m fully aware of the challenges you face on the ground,” he said. “That’s why, in collaboration with the Interior Minister, we’ve been working on a plan to upgrade your logistics. At a National Security Council meeting held today, I secured a GH₵1 billion budget from the Finance Ministry to support this initiative.”

He specifically mentioned the Ghana National Fire Service as one of the most under-resourced agencies, noting that the last significant investment in fire tenders occurred nearly a decade ago.

“The Fire Service urgently needs new equipment. Delays in emergency response aren’t always due to negligence — it’s often because there are simply no functioning fire engines. Most of the tenders date back to President Mills’ era and are now broken down,” he noted.

President Mahama also touched on the increasing rate of violent crimes, including armed robbery, and the limitations security agencies, particularly the Police Service, face in responding effectively.

He appealed to the public for patience and support for emergency personnel, especially fire officers, who continue to operate under severe logistical constraints.

“I ask the public to bear with our fire officers. They are doing their utmost with very limited tools. Procuring new fire engines will be one of our immediate priorities,” the president assured.

The retooling programme is expected to cover all agencies under the Ministry of the Interior and significantly boost their capacity to protect citizens and maintain national security.