The Ministry of the Interior has rolled out new guidelines and standards for the importation, retrofitting (adding new features to make vehicles more efficient), usage, and decommissioning of armoured bullion vehicles in Ghana.

Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mabarak addressing the press Photo: Ebo Gorman

As part of the guidelines, effective today, December 8, 2025, to Monday, January 21, 2026, all financial institutions and entities in the Cash-in-Transit (CIT) business using soft-skinned vehicles are required to park them immediately and apply for the necessary clearance for retrofitting at a certified centre.

Additionally, entities operating in the CIT and bullion business must cease operations immediately and proceed to register and acquire the required licences and certifications from the Ministry of the Interior before resuming activities. Institutions engaged in retrofitting armoured bullion vehicles are also directed to halt operations until they undergo proper licensing and certification processes.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, said the measures were necessary to sanitize the CIT sector and safeguard both citizens and the financial industry. He warned that any organisation or individual violating the guidelines would face administrative sanctions, including suspension of operational licences and possible prosecution.

Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak recalled that between 2021 and 2023, Ghana recorded at least five armed attacks on bullion vans, three of which were fatal, claiming the lives of police officers. In three of these robberies, attackers succeeded in seizing cash being transported, highlighting serious weaknesses in existing CIT operations, particularly the continued use of soft-skinned vehicles offering inadequate protection.

He noted that while the Bank of Ghana had previously directed financial institutions to transition to Armoured Bullion Vehicles (ABVs), some had failed to comply, prompting the government to adopt stricter regulatory measures.

The new guidelines cover key areas including importation requirements and certification processes, operational and maintenance standards, personnel qualifications, specifications for retrofitting and ballistic protection, inspection procedures, and protocols for the safe decommissioning of ABVs.

The Minister added that the guidelines would be enforced alongside the Standard Operating Procedures on ABVs by the Ghana Police Service and the Bank of Ghana. A 45-day notice period has been issued for all stakeholders to comply, after which nationwide enforcement will commence.

Implementation will include accrediting authorised importers and retrofitters, conducting regular inspections, mandatory training and licensing for personnel, and instituting a structured decommissioning system. The Inspector-General of Police has been directed to establish an Enforcement Unit to ensure strict compliance, reporting to a committee comprising security agencies, the Bank of Ghana, and the Ghana Gold Board.

Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak urged all stakeholders to use the grace period to regularise their operations. He reiterated that non-compliance would not be tolerated, emphasising the government’s commitment to protecting lives, preventing financial losses, and enhancing public confidence in the secure transport of cash and valuables.

The Minister commended all institutions involved in drafting the guidelines and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to strengthen national security and professionalism within the financial logistics sector.