BOG directs DMBs and SDIs to use bullion vans for cash in transit activities
"contained in a statement issued by the Bank of Ghana and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Association of Bankers"
“Following the Bank of Ghana’s(BoG) meeting with cash operations Managers of banks held on Thursday, 15th October 2020, Bank of Ghana hereby directs all Deposit Money Banks(DMBs) and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions(SDIs) to acquire armoured plated bullion vans for its cash operations”.
The above is contained in a statement issued by the Bank of Ghana and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Association of Bankers.
The statement, signed by Alethea Godson-Amamoo for the Secretary of the Bank of Ghana, is dated 24th December 2020 and was received by the Association of Bankers on January 8, 2021.
In the statement, a reference is made to the spate of armed attacks during cash in transit activities as the reason for this directive.
“The above directive is as a result of the spate of armed attacks during cash-in-transit activities, leading to loss of lives, currency and destruction of sophisticated equipment which has become a national security concern,” the statement noted.
The Bank of Ghana, therefore, directs all Deposit Money Banks(DMBs) and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions(SDIs) to replace all soft-skinned cash-in-transit(CIT) vehicles presently in use with European-standard B6 ballistic protection for the passenger compartment and European-standard B4 for cargo compartment by 1st July 2023.
It ends by urging the DMBs and SDIs to involve the BoG in the procurement of the armoured vehicles to ensure compliance with requisite specifications.
Background
The spate of armed attacks on bullion vans during cash-in-transit activities has in the recent past, become a national issue of concern.
In January this year, armed robbers shot and killed a police officer during an attack on a bullion van at Adansi Nyankumasi in the Adansi Asokwa District. The robbers took away over GH¢2 million from the van. The GCB Bank van with registration number GT 543-19 was travelling from Dunkwa-On-Offin to New Edubiase when the robbers attacked and killed the police officer on board.
The latest one, which occurred on Monday, June 14 2021, at Adedenkpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra, led to the shooting and killing of a police officer on board a bullion van, with the driver sustaining severe wounds.
The above incidents are few among many similar occurrences.
