Security Analyst, Superintendent Retired Francis Baah, is calling for the deployment of bulletproof bullion vans for the transportation of cash and valuables in the country.
This comes after the killing of a police officer and one unidentified woman by suspected armed robbers who shot them during a bullion van robbery on Monday at James Town, a suburb of Accra.
Superintendent Baah believes such instances can be prevented if there are adequate personnel and beefed-up security.
“Everything is changing, even the way people perpetrate crime has changed. They improve day in day out, so we should also sit down, go back to the drawing board, and re-strategize. So, where it becomes necessary, the police should insist on bulletproof vans. They should insist because these are vans that are carrying money and now people are using sophisticated weapons to attack bullion vans, and it goes on and on and on.”
The unidentified armed men, on not less than three motorbikes, crossed the bullion van and started shooting sporadically.
In the process, two persons were shot dead instantly – the police officer on escort duty, and an unidentified woman who was affected during the shooting.
The bullion driver sustained injuries and has been sent to the Korle Bu hospital for treatment. Two tellers who were in the bullion escaped unhurt.
The Accra Regional Police Command said it has launched investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, has asked banks to provide fortified armoured vehicles for carting money.
The Police Chief said he will stop his officers from providing protection for not fit for purpose bullion vans if the banks fail to adhere to the directive by the end of June this year.
