Mahama Hands Over 40 Armoured Vehicles to Police, Affirms Ghana’s Unwavering Commitment to National Security

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s determination to build a secure, stable, and well-protected nation when he handed 40 advanced armoured vehicles to the Ghana Police Service, marking one of the most significant logistical investments in the Service’s recent history.

The event, held at the Police Headquarters in Accra, formed part of the government’s broader agenda to retool, modernise, and professionalise Ghana’s security architecture. The President stressed that the handover represented not only the provision of essential machinery, but a renewal of the state’s covenant to safeguard every citizen.

“We are doing far more than presenting equipment. We are renewing our commitment to protect our people and defend the peace Ghana enjoys,” President Mahama said. The 40 vehicles include 15 armoured pickups, 20 Cobras, and 5 Cobra 4 special armoured vehicles, all designed for high-risk operations, convoy protection, anti-robbery deployments, highway patrols, and special tactical missions.

The President announced that this was only the first batch, with additional resources including two tow trucks, 10 covert operational vehicles, surveillance drones, and patrol pickups for every police district expected later this month. “We will give you the right instruments so you can stay safe, serve well, and return home to your families,” he assured the officers.

President Mahama: Ghana Will Not Surrender a Single Street to Criminals

In his keynote address, President Mahama assured the nation that Ghana would remain secure, stable, and unshakable in the face of rising criminal threats.

“Ghana will not surrender a single street, a single community, or any public space to criminals—today, tomorrow, or ever,” he declared.

He emphasised that peace requires continuous investment and vigilance, especially as the country pursues a 24-hour economy, expands trade, and strengthens social development. The new vehicles, he explained, were designed to give officers tactical advantage—improved protection in high-risk zones, rugged-terrain capability, enhanced patrol support, and upgraded convoy and rapid-response efficiency.

He urged officers to use the equipment responsibly, lawfully, and ethically
“These machines are expensive and hard to procure. Use them professionally and follow safety rules. Your lives matter.”

President Mahama also saluted the sacrifices of officers who run toward danger while others run away, assuring their families that the government is committed to improving officer safety and reducing operational risks.

Assurance to the Public and a Warning to Criminals

The President reaffirmed that the deployment of the vehicles would be intelligence-driven, strategically distributed, and complemented by enhanced communications systems, faster response mechanisms, and integrated inter-agency collaboration.

To the public, he said:
“Your safety, your freedom, and your property remain a top priority. These actions fulfil our constitutional duty to protect you.”

To criminals, he delivered an unmistakable message:
“Your activities will be disrupted, your networks dismantled, and your impunity brought to an end.”

He concluded with a call to unity, discipline, and collective vigilance, saying the government would continue to build a peaceful, just, and secure Ghana.

“As a people, we are peaceful but not passive. Tolerant, but not timid. Law-abiding, but not willing to allow lawlessness to take root.”

Interior Minister Applauds President’s Vision and Warns Against Attacks on Police

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, praised the President’s “clear vision and firm leadership,” noting that the retooling initiative fulfilled a key commitment in the 2024 People’s Manifesto.

“These vehicles are not symbolic—they are real capacity, real protection, and real operational readiness,” he said.

He condemned the rising trend of attacks on police officers, describing such acts as assaults on the state itself. “These attacks must stop. They have no justification. In a civilised society, such conduct will be met with a firm and decisive response,” he warned.

However, he also reminded officers that their enhanced capabilities were not a license for intimidation, abuse, or misconduct.
“You are guardians of the Republic, not rulers of it. These armoured vehicles are instruments of protection—not oppression.”

He outlined broader reforms underway, including improved welfare, technology-driven policing, expanded accommodation, stronger supervision, and a real-time national crime centre under development.

IGP Welcomes the President, Describes the Vehicles as a Game-Changer

Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohunu, welcomed the President on his first official visit to the Police Headquarters since assuming office, expressing deep gratitude on behalf of the Police Management Board and officers nationwide.

He described the vehicles as timely and transformational, given the increasing risks officers encounter in the line of duty.
“To say we were eager to receive these vehicles would be an understatement,” the IGP said, noting that criminals have grown more violent and sophisticated, often endangering the lives of police personnel.

He recounted several high-impact intelligence operations that had foiled robbery attempts, dismantled crime networks, and brought perpetrators of recent rural bank robberies, railway station attacks, and mobile vendor robberies to justice. Still, he acknowledged the painful reality of officers who had sustained life-threatening injuries or died in service.

Against this backdrop, he said the new vehicles would “completely change the dynamics of police operations,” enabling bold, targeted, and better-protected deployments across all 25 police regions. He issued a stern warning:
“To those who disturb the peace of this country—run all you want, hide wherever you wish. We will come for you.”

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