Resident John Dramani Mahama has presented 111 vehicles to the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI).
It included 100 Mitsubishi pickups, six LX Toyota station wagons and five Toyota Prado vehicles.
He also commissioned a new digital forensic laboratory and interrogation rooms for the security bureau. The renovated interrogation rooms are fitted with soundproofing and digital recording equipment.
The President, who made the presentation at the BNI regional office in Accra yesterday, expressed the commitment of the government to adequately equip the agency to enhance national security.
He commended the BNI Director-General, Charles Alhassan Kipo, for the bureau’s modernisation drive, saying the government takes the BNI’s work “very seriously” and would continue to support the officers to discharge their duties effectively.
Present were the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, and the National Security Coordinator, Commissioner of Police (COP) Osman Abdul-Razak.
Significance
The President said the lack of vehicles had hampered the Bureau’s efficiency, with officers sometimes using old vehicles for intelligence gathering.
“This is going to be a thing of the past,” he said, adding that the new fleet would improve mobility and efficiency.
He cautioned drivers against reckless use of the vehicles and urged proper maintenance so they can last.
President Mahama announced that additional vehicles would be procured for various security agencies in 2027 to augment their fleet.
Modernisation of offices
The President described the new BNI regional headquarters that he commissioned in Ahafo some weeks ago as very distinguished and comfortable, which would boost officers’ morale while respecting the dignity of citizens who visit.
He said eight other regional offices which were being built would be completed next year.
President Mahama further described BNI officers as “unsung heroes” of the nation’s security architecture, stressing that security rests on intelligence and investigations.
He said that while the public often saw the police and military, the BNI did critical behind-the-scenes work to keep the country safe, adding that intelligence gathered by the Bureau supports the police, military and other agencies.
The President said crime was shifting from analogue to digital, with scammers and hackers posing growing threats, and said the BNI must always stay two steps ahead of criminals.
He, therefore, said the new laboratory would help tackle cybercrime and sophisticated digital offences, adding that data from suspects’ phones had helped security agencies identify and arrest armed robbers.
