The Head, Branch Operations and Business Development of the company, Mr Pascal Agbenu, said the move was in response to a directive by the Bank of Ghana to financial institutions to replace all soft-skinned (CIT) vehicles with armoured-plated vehicles.

Mr Agbenu, who said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic after a donation to the Ghana Police Service, added that the company had began providing CIT services to financial institutions with its new armoured-plated bullion vans.

“We want to assure our clients, mostly banks that we have enough of the armoured vans to ensure a smooth and secured transfer of cash across the country. Our bullion vans are fit-for-purpose ,therefore, reducing risks on both the personnel and money being transported,” he said.

Robbery cases

Last year, in the wake of incessant robbery attacks on bullion vans, the Ghana Police Service threatened to withdraw police personnel who provided escort duties on bullion vans if the banks failed to provide fortified armoured vehicles.

The directive followed observations that the vehicles used by most banks in Ghana as bullion vans were not fit-for-purpose.

Donation

Earlier, the CEO of Mon- Tran Limited, My Tony Minka presented 10 motorbikes to the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare.

The donation, which is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, is also to support activities of the police towards effective policing duties.

Mr Minkah said the gesture was to enhance police visibility and swift response in areas that are difficult to access with vehicles.

“By the nature of our operations in CIT, bullion and ATM services, we have heavily relied on the Ghana Police personnel in the delivery of our services to our clients. It is on the basis of this cordial relationship that we have decided to present these motorbikes. We hope it will increase police visibility, move service personnel around and reduce crime in the country,” he stated.

 Speaking on behalf of the IGP, the Director General of the National Patrols Department of the Ghana Police Service,Commissioner of Police (COP)Paul Manly Awini, expressed gratitude to the company for their contribution to further the cause of the implementation of the community crime combat and reduction of fear of crime initiative being rolled out by the police administration.

He said the initiative was to ensure that Ghanaians live in a peaceful, orderly and law abiding country.

Personnel assigned to this initiative, he explained, would use motorbikes to patrol communities and work with residents to address security related concerns.

“This donation will go a long way to further the implementation of this initiative. We assure you that these motorbikes will be used for the purpose for which they were donated and will be maintained, serviced and deployed to communities to help ensure that the communities are peaceful and law abiding’’, he added.