At the Bank of Ghana’s regional office in Sefwi Boako in Ghana’s Western North Region, the Ghana Air Force and the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces built a helipad to transport money.
On March 16, 2023, the Air Force and the 48 Engineer Regiment presented the Bank with the newly built Helipad during a brief ceremony.
By airlifting currency from Accra to Sefwi Boako, the helipad is anticipated to strengthen the Bank’s currency transportation activities in t
he Western region of the nation.
Officials from the Bank, the Ghana Air Force, and 48 Engineer Regiment Officers were present for the handing over ceremony.
Wing Commander Kwame Asare-Boateng (Rtd), Head of the Bank’s Security Department, Nana Buabeng, Director of the Corporate Management Services Department, and the Regional Manager of the Sefwi Boako Office made up the Bank’s team.
The Ghana Air Force, 48 Engineering Regiment, and other stakeholders were thanked by Wg Cdr Asare-Boateng on behalf of the Governor for their contributions to the quick construction of the Helipad.
He said the helipad will allow the Bank to deliver cash to Sefwi Boako safely and prevent attacks on the Bank’s bullion vehicles.
Air Cdre C.N.A. Mills and Lt. Col. Albert Tekyi represented the Air Force and the 48 Engineer Regiment, respectively.
Following the Bank of Ghana Bullion Van accident in November 2019 at Techiman in Ghana’s Bono East Region, the bank’s management formed a committee to look into the events leading up to the tragedy and give suggestions on how to enhance the nation’s cash movement operations.
The committee advised the bank’s management, among other things, to consider other methods of currency distribution. The Bank contacted the Ghana Air Force in response to the committee’s report to explore the potential of airlifting currency to some of its regional offices in the nation.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed as a result of the engagement with the Air Force, required the Air Force to start transporting currency from Accra to Tamale in the latter half of 2020.
The two institutions started looking for ways to expand the services to additional Regional Offices after a successful lifting of currencies via the Tamale-Accra route.
The decision to construct a helipad was made in light of the aforementioned.