The Government, through the Ministry of the Interior and the Ghana Police Service, has intensified efforts to safeguard lives, protect financial assets and strengthen national security with the implementation of new guidelines and standards governing armoured bullion vehicles (ABVs) used in cash-in-transit operations across the country.
The move was highlighted at a one-day sensitisation workshop held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, where the Deputy Minister for the Interior, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, speaking on behalf of the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safe transportation of cash and other valuables nationwide.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including private security organisations, cash-in-transit operators, vehicle importers, retrofitting firms, and the Bank of Ghana to deepen awareness and compliance with the new regulatory framework.
Hon. Terlabi said the standards were introduced following a series of armed attacks on cash-in-transit operations between 2021 and 2023, which resulted in fatalities and significant financial losses.
“These incidents underscored the urgent need for stronger measures to protect personnel, safeguard assets and enhance public safety,” he stated.
According to the Deputy Minister, the regulations, officially launched by the Minister for the Interior on December 4, 2025, establish clear requirements for the importation, retrofitting, certification, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of armoured bullion vehicles.
He stressed that every vehicle imported into, retrofitted in, deployed or withdrawn from service in Ghana must comply with prescribed technical, professional and safety standards.
“Compliance is not merely an administrative obligation; it is fundamentally about saving lives, protecting property and strengthening national security,” Hon. Terlabi noted.
He further warned that the Ministry of the Interior remains the sole authority mandated to grant permits for the importation or retrofitting of armoured bullion vehicles and cautioned that entities operating outside the approved framework would face sanctions, including possible revocation of operating licences.
The Deputy Minister called for stronger collaboration among the Ministry of the Interior, the Ghana Police Service and the Bank of Ghana to ensure effective implementation of the guidelines. He also urged private security firms, cash-in-transit operators and retrofitting companies to fully integrate the standards into their daily operations.
Addressing the workshop on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, COP Dr. Kwame Afriyie, Director-General of Private Security Organisations, said the Ghana Police Service had developed a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to complement the new guidelines and strengthen the operational safety of cash-in-transit services.
He announced that all non-armoured or “soft-skin” cash-in-transit vehicles have been removed from service nationwide in line with directives from the Ministry of the Interior.
COP Dr. Afriyie disclosed that the Police Service had also established regional and district enforcement teams to conduct inspections, monitor compliance and ensure that operators adhere to the new standards.
He said the Police Service was assessing its workshops across the country to ensure they are adequately equipped to maintain and service armoured vehicles according to the prescribed specifications.
The Director-General emphasized that the success of the initiative would depend on the collective efforts of regulators, operators and the public.
He urged road users to cooperate with security agencies by giving way to armoured bullion vehicles when necessary to facilitate the secure movement of cash and valuables.
The Police Service, he added, would continue to support legitimate operators who comply with the regulations while taking decisive action against individuals and organisations engaged in unlawful activities within the sector.
Hon. Terlabi concluded by expressing appreciation to the Bank of Ghana and other stakeholders for their partnership and reiterated government’s determination to ensure that all armoured bullion vehicles operating in the country are safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
He also encouraged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving cash-in-transit vehicles to the nearest police station or the Ministry of the Interior.
The new framework is expected to significantly improve the safety and efficiency of cash transportation services while reinforcing Ghana’s broader national security architecture and efforts to protect critical financial operations.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
