Retooling Police: JM Walks The Talk

President John Dramani Mahama has walked the talk when on Thursday, December 4, 2025 he delivered forty special purpose combative armoured vehicles to the Ghana Police Service at a ceremony in Accra.

The President, who did not hide his zeal to motivate the security agencies to fight crime and render the country as safe haven for these criminals, put on a combat crash helmet as a sign of solidarity with his men and women in the security services.

No wonder, at a separate occasion in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, on Friday December 5, 2025 during the commissioning of the National Signals Bureau Regional Command Centre, His Excellency promised to deploy over sixty thousand (60,000) additional security surveillance cameras to augment the existing security cameras dotted across the country.

The deployment of these additional cameras are seen as the President’s commitment to retooling the security institutions, so as to unsettle the miscreants.

This is because, the latest armoured vehicles to the police are designed to tackle crimes in rugged terrains, but without functioning or inadequate cameras, their impact may be limited.

Speaking at the National Police Headquarters during the handing over, President Mahama described the ceremony as a renewal of government’s covenant with Ghana to defend peace and ensure the nation remains secure, stable and just.

“Today, as we hand over these forty advanced armoured vehicles, we are renewing our covenant with the people of Ghana.

“That, this nation will protect its citizens, that peace will be defended and that Ghana remains secure, stable and just”, President Mahama said.

He disclosed that, the vehicles are only the first batch of new equipment, announcing that by the end of this month, the Police Service will receive two tow trucks, ten (10) covert operational vehicles and special drone training for a dedicated police detachment.

He stressed responsible use of the new assets, saying that these equipment are expensive and hard to procure.

So you must use them judiciously and according to the rules. He continued that, your safety is important, always follow safety instructions, wear seatbelts, use them professionally, lawfully and ethically.

On the deployment of the multiple security surveillance cameras, His Excellency stated that they are intended to strengthen national security, tackle cybercrime and provide sophisticated surveillance and modern intelligence capacity to support the government’s 24-hour economy policy.

The President further went on that the deployment is part of a larger plan that also includes installing 500 new 4G and 5G communication sites and constructing a new data and cyber defense center, Accra.

He also announced that the Volta Region would host a National Signals Bureau Training Academy for personnel from Ghana and other Economy Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries.

The Interior Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka, emphasised government’s determination to build a modern, intelligent and well-equipped internal security architecture.

He warned that, attacks on security personnel would no longer be tolerated and be met with a firm and decisive response.

The Minister urged police officers to serve with professionalism, discipline, integrity and to avoid abusing their authority.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, stated that he and the Police Management Board, officers and men of the service were excited and grateful to His Excellency, President Mahama, and government for the retooling.

The IGP gave a breakdown of the equipment as fifteen (15) armoured pickup vehicles, twenty (20) Cobra-3 and five (5) Cobra-4 high grade armoured vehicles.

He noted that over the years, the service had seen a steady rise in the levels of risk as officers are confronted daily in the course of performing duties by criminals.

According to him, this calls for critical logistics that would enable personnel to rise above these threats, take on criminal elements head on, while ensuring the safety of our officers.

“As part of your agenda to reset the nation, one of your priority areas has been retooling of the security services, you have always expressed concerns about the safety of our officers and the need to ensure their protection,” he said.

“I am, therefore, not surprised that your administration has acquired these armoured vehicles for the police service to enhance officer safety, improving our operational efficiency and ensure a high level of security across the country,” he added.

The Chief Constable revealed that his team have deployed several strategic preventive measures to ensure security, law and order across the country.

According to IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, apart from several robbery attempts that have been foiled through sustained intelligence operations, police have also successfully arrested notorious suspects who operated under the illusion that they could get away with crime.

He mentioned suspects behind the rural banks robberies, attack at Radiance Filling Station at Mpasatia, raids on mobile money vendors, Wa and Bole serial murders, vehicle theft syndicate, fake online food delivery platforms, just to mention a few.

In all these cases, the IGP stated, that police’s response was decisive and effective, as the suspects are before the law courts.

He further told President Mahama that during these operations, his men had to go into very challenging territories in the pursuit of very dangerous criminals who are mostly armed and ready to do anything, including opening fire on the personnel.

“It is against this backdrop that I am particularly delighted that today, we are receiving these combative armoured cars, which are going to ensure utmost protection for our officers as they gallantly execute the mandate of protecting live and property, ensuring the safety, security of all persons across the country”, the IGP stressed.

Mr Tetteh Yohuno assured that, these vehicles are going to completely change the face and dynamics of Police operations and that they are immediately going to launch very bold, robust and targeted operations throughout the country, ready to dismantle any existing criminal networks.

He concluded by using the opportunity to send strong word of caution to persons who have decided to disturb the security of this country that, police are coming for them, no matter where they have gone to hide.

 

The post Retooling Police: JM Walks The Talk appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story