LISTEN TO ME ! 6 bullion van robberies in Ghana in less than a year. Top 7 ways we can stop this mess!

At daylight around 11:00am, the AK-47 fiercely tore through the mini-silence hanging over the Jamestown community. About eight armed robbers had ambushed a “bullion van” carrying money from Mon-tran, a financial company that provides support services to a number of corporate institutions and headquartered in Medina, Accra.  The policeman who was riveted in his front seat had no way to defend himself as gunfire poured out in his direction. The nozzle of the AK-47’s came his way in an instant. The driver of the “bullion van” sustained life-threatening injuries and was swiftly taken to the Korle-bu teaching hospital to receive treatment.

The robbers fired into air indiscriminately  in a deliberate attempt to strike fear in the heart of the surrounding people. Two tellers who were in the vehicle escaped unharmed but as fate would have it, a stray bullet fired in the direction of one of these tellers on the run hit and killed one Joyce Amankwaa, a 35 year old seller. The robbers whizzed an undisclosed amount of cash away in a flash. This happened on the Tuesday, June 15 2021, about five months after a similar incident on the Adansi Fomena road in the Ashanti region which resulted in the death of Lance Corporal Martin Baba.

It is a little over a month now since six armed robbers attacked a gold dealer at Nkaseim and bolted away with cash worth ¢25,000. The operation was reminiscent of a war zone. Eye witnesses reported massive outpour of fire power.

Why the increase in armed robbery in the country?

Ghana is touted as a peaceful nation in West Africa. But it appears  this peace is sharply washing away. The security apparatus of the country is an apology of a real security machinery capable of protecting the people and their properties. True national security is built on intelligence gathering, not AK-47’s. The Ghana Police is poorly resourced to counter these emerging threats, especially, given the sophistication of recent robberies.

The current situation is not only worrying but extremely frightening. Something has to be done about it and it is now or never!

Factalive has analyzed the unfortunate trend of events and these are the top 7 ways we may be able to arrest the current haemorrhage

#1: Seal the porous borders

Ghana-Burkina Faso border

Without well-defined and protected borders, there is no country at all. Intermittent skirmishes in Togo and the ever looming threat of Islamic jihadists in neighboring Burkina Faso sit Ghana in a rather uncomfortable position.

An investigative documentary released by ace journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, revealed the astonishing porosity of the Ghanaian border. This shook the nerves of many Ghanaians uncontrollably and made many to question the credibility of the country’s security apparatus.

This, the Bawku paramount chief, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, called on government to refurbish and strengthen the security apparatus on the Burkina Faso border, especially considering the  recent jihadists’ killings.

The sophistication and severity of the armed robbery operations in Ghana keeps rising. The confidence, bravery and sheer commando-like attitude of these daylight robbers have many resemblance to what happens on a daily basis in surrounding countries like Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Niger where Islamic terrorists ply indiscriminately. We should not lose cognizance of the fact that majority of these robbers have safe havens where they spend their loot in the least suspected environment. So it shouldn’t be ruled out that majority of these guys may take refuge in neighboring countries from where they foray into our borders to carry out these heinous crimes.

With the number of armed robberies in Tamale abating temporarily only to see a surge in the number of robberies in the south, we should be convinced that the seesaw has only changed orientation and the very people who had marauded the north are on us at the south. And certainly, it includes elements who have oozed in through our porous borders.

#2: Tighten motorcycle ownership and operation

Armed robber fires shots from motorcycle

It will seem like the Ghana Police is reaping the fruits of its  activities – corruption. The Ghana Police Service may only be second to the Nigerian Police Service in terms of corruption. As a Ghanaian, I have always bemoaned the activities of Police officers on the street who pay blind eye to rickety vehicles, unlicensed or drunk drivers etc just for a cedi. It is a daily affair on the Kumasi-Obuasi road where policemen stationed there treat bribery and corruption with unadulterated respect and drivers or passengers who question their norms are deliberately humiliated or ignored, if lucky.

The country is riddled with a lot of Okada riders who can seamlessly transition into armed robbers or aid robbery with their expertise in motor riding. Armed robbery, if it goes well, will definitely be more attractive to the Okada rider who had to toil in the sun all day to earn a penny. It is therefore a good idea to have a huge database of all registered Okada riders, and drivers as a whole.

Sadly, the corrupt fibres of the Ghanaian police know no bounds. They are eager to reach out for some few cedis and overlook that tampered license of the motorbikes that ply our roads. It may surprise us to know that the very motorbikes used in some of these robberies had passed through countless police check-points unquestioned after few cedis were thrown at them.

Almost all of the armed robberies in recent times were committed by men on motorcycles with fake or non-existent registered numbers.

Regulating motorcycles with iron fist will undoubtedly make it very difficult and nearly impossible for armed robbers to rob with impunity. The avalanche number of unregistered motorcycles in the system inure to the whims and caprices of these bloody young men.

#3: Scan the vicinity of financial institutions for threats.

Mon-tran, a victim of the Jamestown bullion van robbery on 15th June 2021

Armed robbers have to obtain accurate information on when cash is moved in and out of a financial institution or bank. This will mostly be the work of least suspected people like a neatly dressed young guy or an innocently dressed lady hanging in the vicinity. Security personnel must be on the lookout for any suspected people around the compound.

The communications networks may be of help in this regard by helping to temporarily jam networks around the financial institutions during transport of cash. This, I think, may curtail the robbers’ ability to obtain real time information on the itinerary of the van transporting the cash. The policeman, driver and personnel on the van must be on the lookout for any vehicle following their trail. It is very possible that armed robbers have stalkers who furtively gather counter-intelligence for their operation.

If possible, financial institutions in liaison with the national security apparatus should have a sub-ministry consisting of the communications and national security dedicated to developing the capabilities to listen into calls around financial buildings within a determined radius. This may help to intercept any communication between a stalker and the armed men laying in ambush. The hard fact is, the true strength of national security is intelligence gathering not the number of fighter jets or AK 47’s one has.

#4: Install intelligent CCTV cameras around financial institutions and beyond

surveillance cameras

It is time to invite the robots to the party. Artificial intelligence must be added to the mix for computers rest not! The current rate and modus operandi of the 21st century armed robbery is a bit challenging for the corrupt, ill-resourced, computer-illiterate, and poorly remunerated Ghanaian policeman.

The commando-like and bravado display of armory and evil might in broad day light by these drug-laden guys may better be countered by the ever-watching eyes of the terminator-like surveillance cameras.

The world is witnessing a rise in sensory systems monitoring us en masse. In China, hundreds of surveillance cameras are installed in Xinjiang province to monitor peoples’ face, movement, license plates, etc. Even in countries which claim to uphold human rights protections like Sweden, these robotic systems are brandished in daylight to deter terrorism.

It is long overdue for Ghana to up her technological drive in the security space. Very hot regions like Kasoa needs at least a 1:5 surveillance camera ratio. That is, every one camera is earmarked for 5 people. This implies that with an approximate population of 500,000 , Kasoa would need about 2,500,000 surveillance cameras around the vicinity. This number could be pursued gradually until achieved. Having a centralized intelligence unit for each town to monitor this security network will deal a debilitating blow to armed robbery network in the country.

The robots will immediately fish out unregistered vehicles, fake license plates, wanted personnel, and report suspicious activities or movements in neighborhoods. This will help the national security to nail crime in the head before it even begins. But will the corrupt belly of lazy politicians give in to any prospect of protecting the nationals? I doubt it. Once again, it will be an ugly political showdown at the house of parliament between the NPP and NDC for the next decade. It is said that when two elephants fight, it is the earth that cry out for mercy.

#5: Put all the illegal drug users under surveillance

Man prepares/rolls marijuana in a paper

A recent report by Citi news revealed that a suburb in Bantama in the Ashanti region is turned into a weed smoking ground. According to a resident, many drive or ride from afar every evening in order to get some smoke into their lungs.

I have always wondered how a human being in his right senses could take a gun and in a flash of a second, whiz away the life of a fellow human without any trace of sorrow. But the more I ponder over this, the more it becomes clearer to me. Aided by the psychoactive effects of drugs like marijuana, taking another person’s life mayn’t be herculean as it appears to the ordinary Ghanaian. If many have committed heinous crimes under the influence of alcohol, what won’t marijuana addicts do?

Marijuana has mind-altering compounds that greatly affect the brain and the body. The main psychoactive ingredient of the cannabis plant is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC stimulates the part of the brain that responds to pleasure, like food and sex. The addictive nature of the substance makes it detrimental to our health. THC releases a substance called dopamine. This substance creates the euphoric and relaxed feeling characteristic of weed smokers. Smoking marijuana makes you get high.

Many criminals are drug addicts or have used drugs before. The exhorbitant price  of the substance makes it difficult for addicts to secure their daily intake. Using these drugs for a long period of time makes one weary and noninterested in work at times. A quick way to sustain smoke in the lungs is to have access to quick money immediately the need arises. And killing just to secure a roll shouldn’t be much a problem for the mentally ransancked wee-smoking gentleman.

The time to open up a database for all Ghanaians who use illicit drugs is now. Health personel have a part to play in this regard. It will not be out of place for the Ministry of Health and Defence to work hand in hand to carry out a selective but compulsory test on peole suspected to be using drugs. If confirmed, such peolple may be placed under surveillence by the closest police establishment to be convinced that they don’t pose any current or future threat to the community and nation as a whole.

#6: Stop using Pickup vans as bullion vans

A pickup van used as bullion van on the left. A real bullion van on the right

The word “bullion” was coined from the Anglo-Norman term for a melting-house which was used to refine metals. That was when precious metal was used to make coins for general circulation. Some also claim “bullion” comes from “bull”, a fierce, muscular cow with thicker bones, larger feet, meaty neck and a big, bony head with eyes adorned with protective ridges. So the mention of the word “bullion” implies an atmosphere of intense and brute security, not the ramshackle and makeshift vehicles paraded on the streets by tight-fisted financial companies and banks. Bullion vans are armoured cars, not pickup trucks.

Bullion vans must have surveillance cameras. This will assist the police in future investigations. For instance, according to eye witness, the armed robbers at Jamestown drove directly at the “bullion van” and opened fire at the policeman killing him in an instant. If the van had any on-board cameras, it could have captured the robbers on the scene to assist in police investigation.

#7: Invest in the protective gear of the police

Ghanaian Policeman who died on duty at Akyem Oda Petrol Station

Without mincing words, all policemen on duty must be properly resourced to protect their lives and lives and properties of those they protect.

The late Emmanuel Osei, who died in the Jamestown daylight robbery, wasn’t wearing a cavalier helmet when he was attacked. He wore no bullet proof vest and sat in the front seat of a thin-skinned pickup truck humorously referred to as a bullion van by Ghanaian banks.

The Ghanaian policeman must be better equipped especially given the fact that robbers are increasingly becoming sophisticated in their operations. A policeman on duty must be protected from his feet to the farthest strand of hair on his head. We can’t risk the lives of these able-bodied gentlemen everyday.

Aside wearing modern cavalier helmet, bullet-proof vest, and wielding automatic rifles with immense firepower, the policeman on duty must wear body cams to help trace any happenings in the event of catastrophes. Body cams equally help to hold the policeman accountable should he abuse his power.

In the United States, body cams of policemen have helped to expose racial maltreatment of black people. One instance was when a white policeman pointed his gun at and pepper-sprayed Army Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario in uniform.

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