The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has received a boost as President John Mahama hands over 100 pickup vehicles to the service.

Speaking during the handing over event held at the Police Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, January 8, President Mahama described the move as one of the many efforts by his outfit to strengthen capacity and improve the assets and equipment of the police force.

According to President Mahama, this presentation marks the first batch of the many vehicles the government will present to the police force. This, he highlighted, will enhance police visibility and accessibility.

He said, “These 100 pickups are the first batch of several pickups that we shall be presenting to the Police Service. These are operational necessities. They will improve patrols, reduce response time, extend policing to hard-to-reach areas, and strengthen police visibility nationwide,” the President said.

He explained that the vehicles will enable officers to respond to emergencies more efficiently and operate more safely, particularly in remote and underserved communities.

“In simple terms, they will get the police to where they are needed faster and safer,” President Mahama added.

President Mahama also charged the Inspector-General of Police and the leadership of the Police Service to maintain the vehicles and ensure their proper use, promoting responsibility and professionalism while avoiding public waste, emphasising that his government will not tolerate any form of misuse.

“To the Inspector-General of Police and the leadership of the Police Service, these vehicles are entrusted to you on behalf of the people of Ghana. They are instruments of service, not symbols of power. They must be properly deployed, professionally used, carefully maintained, and fully accounted for. This administration will not tolerate misuse, waste, or indiscipline. Every resource provided for national security must deliver real value to the Ghanaian people.

“As we strengthen capacity, we are equally committed to professionalism and accountability. A strong police service must be lawful. Authority must always be exercised with restraint, and respect for human rights is non-negotiable. The uniform confers authority, but it also demands responsibility,” he said.

Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, expressed deep appreciation to the President and reaffirmed the Police Service’s commitment to safeguarding the assets and using them effectively.

“I wish to express the heartfelt appreciation of the Ghana Police Service to you,” the IGP 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.”

IGP Yohuno further assured that the Ghana Police Service remains committed to playing its role in national development and reform.

“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 stated.

In a related development, the government last year donated 40 armoured cars to the service. In a handing-over ceremony held at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, December 4, President Mahama, in his speech, commended the police for their hard work and efforts in bringing criminals to book, citing their resolve in tackling several cases of murder, armed robberies and other crimes in the country.

He said, “And you have dealt with them, people who robbed banks and attacked people’s residences.

You have chalked up many victories in bringing them to justice. Let me commend the CID, too.

In the past, there were many unsolved murders. I’m happy to note that recently, many of the murders that occurred have been resolved. With good police intelligence, you’ve been able to bring the suspects to book”

He noted that the 40 armoured vehicles given to the Service are only the first of many his government will hand over to the law enforcement agency, adding that two tow trucks and patrol pickups will also be supplied to police districts.

“These 40 vehicles are just the first batch of what you will be receiving.

By the end of this month, you will receive two tow trucks so that anytime any of these vehicles becomes immobilised anywhere, you can pick it up and bring it back to base. You will also get 10 covert operational vehicles, which I have been cautioned not to talk about. It is only you who will know you have them. In addition, we want to give every police district a normal pickup for patrol duties, the President said.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohunu, in an acceptance speech, assured the president that with vehicles, his outfit will tear down any criminal syndicate and launch a “robust and targeted operation throughout the country.

“Your Excellency, these vehicles are going to completely change the face and dynamics of police operations. With these vehicles, we are going to launch very bold, robust, and targeted operations throughout the country. We will dismantle any existing criminal networks, most of whom have gone into hiding due to our intensified activities against them”, he noted.

He also sent a warning to individuals threatening national security, declaring that the Police Service will relentlessly pursue and apprehend anyone involved in criminal activities.

“Let me use this opportunity to send a strong word of caution to persons who have decided to threaten the security of this country: we are coming for you. You can run all you want and hide wherever you wish, but we will surely get you,” taunting the police service’s achievements so far under his leadership.

“We have made several breakthroughs. In addition to numerous robbery attempts that have been foiled through sustained intelligence operations, we have successfully arrested suspects who operated under the illusion that they could get away with crime. These include the suspect behind the rural bank robberies, the robbery of the Radiance Filling Station, the robbery at Enfasatia, attacks on mobile vendors, the Wire and Bullet serial murders, vehicle theft syndicates, and perpetrators behind fake online food-delivery platforms.

IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohunu, also assured that the vehicles would be strategically deployed and properly maintained to achieve their intended objectives, commending the government for its intervention.

“We wish to sincerely express our profound gratitude to the government for thinking about us and prioritising our welfare. Our assurance to you is that the vehicles will be well-maintained and strategically deployed to achieve the intended objectives,” he said.