The government has allocated GH¢1 billion to strengthen the operational capacities and effectiveness of the country’s security agencies.
President John Dramani Mahama revealed this at a recent meeting with security agencies on Friday, June 20, after receiving a donation of GH¢1 million to support the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) from 11 agencies.
Dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak; the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
Others include the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Ghana Prisons Service, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the National Identification Authority (NIA).
According to him, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has already approved the allocation despite the odds to strengthen the security agencies.
He expressed concern over the operational challenges confronting the security services, particularly the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), emphasizing that the service’s tools and machinery were procured over a decade ago and have not been replaced or upgraded.
President Mahama added that these challenges are hampering their efforts to effectively carry out their security and emergency response duties.
According to him, the new funding would go a long way in addressing these critical shortfalls and restoring public confidence in the operations of the security agencies.
“I have managed to squeeze the hand of the Minister of Finance to his back, and we will get a budget of a billion cedis for the retooling of your various services. The Fire Service needs equipment urgently. I empathise with them when they get insulted by people when they do not get to fire incidents early. The issue is that they do not have the equipment. Some of the equipment was bought 10 years ago. There has not been a retooling,” the president explained.
“The police have to confront armed robbers every day, and you do not expect them to do it in light-skinned vehicles,” he said.
The Fire Service has, on several occasions, attributed delays in emergency response to outdated equipment, contributing to the escalating loss of lives and properties.
Many of the existing fire tenders are outdated and no longer meet the demands of modern firefighting, compromising the speed and efficiency of operations.
In response, the GNFS has repeatedly appealed for more fire tenders, advanced firefighting equipment, and an expanded workforce.
Despite their plea, support has been limited, leaving personnel to rely on aging tools and vehicles that often slow down response efforts.
Addressing concerns about the police service, President Mahama highlighted the risks officers encounter in dealing with armed criminals and stressed the immediate need for adequate equipment to protect their lives.
“The armed robbers are well armed with AK-47s. They’re back at them and so getting them armor-plated vehicles for their patrol, highway patrols, and things is also something that we’ll look at,” he stated.
Additionally, he lamented mobility challenges facing the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Prisons Service. He noted that the fund is expected to procure modern vehicles to improve their operational efficiency and ensure a timely response to security duties.
“And so we’ll help you; we’ll retool you. You have a mandate to look after us, but we must help you to look after us, and so I can assure you that getting equipment and logistics for you to do your work will be one of our priorities,” he said.
Should government disburse the allocated amount, this will go a long way to aid the delivery of security services by the security agencies.
On the other hand, the Cabinet had approved a bill for the Mahama Cares Fund. According to President Mahama, the fund will be managed by independent trustees, reputable individuals appointed once Parliament gives a nod.