The Ministry for the Interior has issued a 45-day notice, effective today, December 8, 2025, within which period all financial institutions and entities in the cash-in-transit (CIT) business must use only certified vehicles for such business.
Such financial institutions with soft skinned vehicles are to park them immediately and proceed to apply for the necessary clearance for retrofitting of the said vehicles at a certified retrofitting centre.
Entities operating in the CIT/bullion business are also to cease operations henceforth and proceed to register and acquire the needed licences and certification from the Ministry for the Interior before operations.
Furthermore, entities engaged in the retrofitting of armoured bullion vehicles (ABVs) for the cash-in-transit/bullion services are to cease operations henceforth and proceed to register and acquire the needed licenses and certification from the Ministry for the Interior before operations.
The ministry announced these as it rolled out guidelines and standards for the importation, retrofitting, usage and decommissioning of armoured bullion vehicles (ABVs) in the country.
“All stakeholders should note that after the 45-day notice period, there shall be nationwide enforcement and full implementation of the guidelines and standards, including taking legal action and applying sanctions against those who breach the directives,” the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, said this at a press conference to announce the guidelines in Accra last Thursday.
The guidelines and standards cover, among others, the importation requirements and certification processes, operational and maintenance standards, procedures for inspection, testing, and compliance monitoring, personnel qualifications, specifications for retrofitting and modification, safe and proper decommissioning of the ABVs, and recovery and redundancy strategy for contingency scenarios.
The guidelines and standards are to be enforced alongside the standard operating procedures on ABVs by the Ghana Police Service and the Bank of Ghana.
Implementation
The minister indicated that the successful roll-out of these guidelines would be followed by a phased implementation plan, which includes accreditation of authorised importers and retrofitters who met the specified technical and security standards.
He explained that there would also be regular inspections and compliance audits to ensure adherence to safety and operational protocols and mandatory training and licensing for drivers, escort personnel and others engaged in bullion and CIT operations.
The minister said there would also be a structured decommissioning process to ensure that retired vehicles were rendered inoperable and properly documented.
“As part of the implementation plan, the Inspector-General of Police has already been tasked to form an Enforcement Unit to ensure strict compliance with the Guidelines.
The Enforcement Unit will report to the Implementation Committee, which is duly constituted with representation from the security and intelligence agencies, Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Gold Board,” he said.
Security
Mr Mubarak, therefore, urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the 45-day notice period to comply with the guidelines and regularise their operations with the ministry.
“Let us work together to ensure CIT and bullion operations are secure, efficient and safe so that we can protect lives, prevent financial losses, and promote economic growth and development.
“As we officially roll out these Guidelines and Standards for the Importation, Retrofitting, Usage and Decommissioning of Armoured Bullion Vehicles (ABVs), let us renew our shared commitment to safety, responsibility and excellence.
“Let us remember that the value of a nation’s security infrastructure is not measured only by its strength, but by the lives it protects. Every police officer, driver, and operations staff who participates in a CIT or bullion transport deserves to return home safely after every mission,” he said.
The Interior Minister said the development of the guidelines and standards was not an isolated effort and that it was the result of extensive consultation and collaboration among key institutional stakeholders, which include the Ghana Police Service, the Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Gold Board, as well as industry experts such as the Ghana Association of Banks, Private Security Organisations and Entities in the CIT/Bullions transport business.
