President John Dramani Mahama has taken a major step toward enhancing internal security by handing over 100 pickup vehicles to the Ghana Police Service (GPS), a move aimed at improving operational efficiency, emergency response, and police visibility across the country.
The presentation ceremony took place on Thursday, January 8, at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra, where President Mahama described the initiative as part of a wider strategy to modernise policing and reinforce public safety nationwide. He stressed that the vehicles are not symbolic gifts but essential working tools required for effective law enforcement in today’s security environment.
According to the President, the 100 pickups represent the first tranche of a larger fleet expansion programme planned for the Ghana Police Service. He explained that additional vehicles would be supplied in phases as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the operational capacity of the Service.
“These 100 pickups are the first batch of several pickups that we shall be presenting to the Police Service,” President Mahama said during the ceremony. “They are not ceremonial vehicles. These are operational necessities.”
He noted that the new vehicles would significantly enhance police patrols, shorten response times to emergencies, and improve the ability of officers to reach communities that are difficult to access, particularly rural and peri-urban areas with limited infrastructure.
“These vehicles will improve patrols, reduce response time, extend policing to hard-to-reach areas, and strengthen police visibility nationwide,” he stated.
President Mahama further explained that mobility remains one of the most critical challenges facing modern policing in Ghana, especially as the country continues to expand and urbanise. He said the availability of reliable transport directly affects how quickly officers can respond to crime, accidents, and security threats.
“In simple terms, they will get the police to where they are needed faster and safer,” the President added.
The President also reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening state institutions, particularly the security services, as part of a broader national agenda focused on stability, development, and public confidence in governance. He stressed that effective policing is central to economic growth, social cohesion, and the protection of democratic values.
For his part, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, expressed profound gratitude to the President on behalf of the entire Ghana Police Service. He described the vehicle donation as timely and impactful, noting that it would significantly improve the Service’s ability to carry out its mandate.
“I wish to express the heartfelt appreciation of the Ghana Police Service to you, Mr President,” IGP Yohuno said. “We assure you of our loyalty and our commitment to protect these assets, deploy them wisely, and use them relentlessly in the service of peace, safety, and national stability.”
The IGP emphasised that the Police Service would put in place strict measures to ensure the vehicles are properly maintained and used strictly for official duties. He said accountability mechanisms would be enforced to prevent misuse and to maximise the operational lifespan of the new fleet.
IGP Yohuno also reaffirmed the Police Service’s readiness to align with the government’s broader reform agenda, describing the current period as a critical phase in strengthening professionalism, discipline, and public trust within the Service.
“As we move forward, the Ghana Police stands to do its part in the national reset, firm in law enforcement, conduct, and in the defence of our nation,” he said.
Security analysts say the acquisition of new patrol vehicles is likely to have an immediate impact on policing outcomes, particularly in areas where officers previously struggled with limited mobility. In recent years, the Ghana Police Service has faced challenges linked to inadequate logistics, including broken-down vehicles and insufficient transport for patrol and emergency response.
With the addition of the 100 pickups, police commands across the regions are expected to enhance routine patrols, rapid response operations, and visibility in crime-prone areas. Improved mobility is also expected to support election security, highway patrols, and coordinated responses to emergencies such as road accidents and natural disasters.
Observers note that public confidence in law enforcement often improves when police presence is visible and response times are shortened. The new vehicles are therefore seen as a practical step toward bridging gaps between communities and the police, especially in underserved locations.
As the Ghana Police Service prepares to deploy the vehicles nationwide, officials say the focus will remain on ensuring that the investment translates into measurable improvements in safety, security, and public trust. The government has indicated that logistics support for the security services will remain a priority as part of its long-term national development and security strategy.
Source: Africa Publicity
