PHOTO: Policeman seen with wife on wedding day last year before he was killed in Ablekuma Fanmilk oil filing station by armed robbers

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it has it that Policeman seen with wife on wedding day last year before he was killed in Ablekuma Fanmilk oil filing station by armed robbers.

For immediate release 

23rd June, 2023

ABLEKUMA BULLION VAN ROBBERY IN FOCUS : BLAME POLICE HIGH COMAND FOR THEIR INABILITY TO ENFORCE THE RIGHT OPERATING STANDARD PROCEDURE TO SAFEGUARD ITS OFFICERS – Security Analyst

Seriously, it is too sad to have another gallant police officer killed in a sub – standard bullion van robbery attack at Ablekuma – Fanmilk. It on record that, between February 2021 and February 2022, four separate bullion van robbery attacks were recorded across Greater Accra Region. A critical analysis on the vedio footage intelligence recorded by the closed circuit television ( CCTV) at the filling station showed clearly how the robbers with their two motorbikes ambushed the bullion van, shot the police officer on target whiles the driver run for his life and they carried away the sales made by the filling station. 

Having noticed the poor quality bullion van in question in the vedio footage and the police officer shot without wearing armoured vest and ballistic helmet has triggered me to ask the Ghana Police high command on how well do they ensure their men and women adhere to the right operating standard procedure in such an important operation involving life and money.

Understanding the police service as an institution on how it standby its directives and ensures its full implementation in this poor quality bullion van issue has become very problematic and questionable. 

Referring to the press statement signed and released by the then director of public affairs, superintendent of police, Sheilla Kessie Abayie – Buckman (Mrs) dated 14th June, 2021 with reference number PAD/PRESS/VOL3 178 having it 3rd paragraph read as “The IGP is also reminding the Association of Bankers to provide a fortified armoured vehicles for carting currencies by the close of June 2021 as earlier agreed between them and Police Service, lest the Police withdrews its officers for escort duties”

So, the question am asking is, if the Police Service High Command are aware of how the security of cash movement and escort officers are critical in the banking business and for that matter have warned the Association of Bankers on the deadly threat the sub – standard vehicles used by most of their banks in transporting of their money pose on personnel life and the money, why then do the Police high command allow them to continue using them.

Again, why are some police officers on these special duties not given bullet proof vests and ballistic helmets to wear for their personal protection.

It is important to state that, protecting, detecting and deterring are the ultimate security strategies that can safeguard our gallant police personnel in an unaware situation like this, with they are alertness in combating coupled with the presence of the armoured bullion van with its security features such as its tracking device, its bullet resistance glass and siren could have deterred the robbers in the first place or the tracking device could have tracked them by alerting the danger as they continued to follow them with their motorbikes or probably it could have been very difficult for the robbers to open the door of the armoured bullion van and shoot the police officer. It is prudent to establish that, if the police officer was wearing the armoured vest the bullet probably wouldn’t have penetrated into his body. 

Ghana Police Service must as a matter of urgent enforce its directive on the use of the armoured bullion van by the banks or withdraw its officers on such duties. 

Sign

Anthony Acquaye ( MA in Security, KAIPTC)

Security Policy Expert 

Center for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy (CSDPA)

0556783703

Police officer, Callistus Amoah, was a newly married man before being killed during daylight bullion van robbery in Ablekuma Fanmilk oil filing station. One of the robbers who shot the police yesterday was allegedly captured on one of the cameras installed on our roads, thanks to Government and Dr Bawumia’s digitalization agenda.