President John Dramani Mahama has announced a significant intervention to boost the capacity of Ghana’s security sector, revealing that the government has earmarked GHS1 billion to retool and modernize the country’s security services.
The announcement follows a recent National Security Council meeting, where the President raised urgent concerns about the operational limitations facing frontline agencies, especially the Ghana Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service.
“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 retooling of your various services,” President Mahama disclosed.
He underscored the pressing needs of the Fire Service, describing the current situation as dire, with outdated equipment severely limiting their effectiveness during emergencies.
“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,” he explained.
Speaking during a special engagement with personnel on Friday, June 20, the President called on Ghanaians to be patient and supportive of the Fire Service, stressing that the delays often criticized by the public are due to logistical constraints, not negligence.
He also highlighted the challenges confronting the Ghana Police Service, noting the dangers officers face daily in crime-fighting efforts across the country.
“The police have to confront armed robbers every day, and you do not expect them to do it in light-skinned vehicles,” he remarked.
In a related show of solidarity, senior officials from all 11 agencies under the Ministry of the Interior have collectively contributed GHS1 million to the Mahama Cares Fund, also known as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund. The donation is part of efforts to support individuals suffering from chronic illnesses.
The contributing agencies include the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), National Identification Authority (NIA), Gaming Commission, National Peace Council, Refugee Board, and the Small Arms Commission.
