President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana is safer than it was previously, commending the Ghana Police Service for improvements in public security, highway safety and the investigation of unresolved murders.

Speaking on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the commissioning of a new 85-bed block at the Police Hospital in Accra, the President praised the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Police Intelligence Department and the Police Cyber Unit for their work.

President Mahama attributed the reported improvements to the efforts of police personnel and pledged continued government support to provide the logistics needed for effective policing.

“I wish to repeat the testimony of a bus driver who said that before, they had to queue and they were afraid to travel at night because of highway robbery. He says today, anytime the bus is full, even at 2 a.m., they take off because the roads are safer. Our country is safer today than it was before.”
President John Dramani Mahama

President Mahama presented the account as an indication of how security conditions affect everyday activities, particularly public transport and movement between communities after dark.

He did not provide specific statistics on highway robbery during the ceremony, but used the driver’s experience to support his assessment of the country’s security situation. The account also highlighted the importance of road safety to commercial transport operators, whose schedules and operations can be affected by the threat of criminal attacks.

For President Mahama, the reported change demonstrated the importance of sustaining police operations that enable citizens and businesses to travel with greater confidence.

Police Intelligence and Investigations Receive Praise

President Mahama also commended the police for a reported reduction in unresolved murders, specifically recognising the work of the CID. He extended his praise to the Police Intelligence Department and the Police Cyber Unit, highlighting their contributions to the service’s wider security responsibilities.

“I want to commend the CID for the good job you are doing,” he stated. The President did not disclose figures showing the reduction in unresolved murder cases or provide details of the investigations behind the reported progress.

His remarks nevertheless placed investigative work and intelligence gathering among the areas he considered important to the police administration’s performance. He also praised the IGP and other police leaders, describing the service’s work as deserving of national recognition.

Addressing officers and other attendees at the ceremony, President Mahama expressed gratitude on behalf of the country for the work of personnel who maintain public order and respond to criminal activity.

“As Commander-in-Chief and President of the Republic, I want to express the gratitude of our nation to all of you,” he stated. He urged officers to sustain their efforts, linking their work to the wider objective of keeping Ghana safe.

Government Pledges Continued Logistical Support

President Mahama pledged that his administration would continue providing the Ghana Police Service with the logistics required to perform its duties. “I can assure you that we’ll continue to provide you with the logistics that you need to continue to do your job,” he stated.

The commitment formed part of the President’s broader message on the need to support police personnel as they respond to emergencies, confront violent crime and maintain peace in communities.

His remarks came during the commissioning of the new Police Hospital block, an event focused primarily on improving the welfare and healthcare available to serving officers and the wider public.

The President connected the need for police welfare to the demanding and sometimes dangerous nature of policing. Beyond healthcare, his speech outlined plans to provide additional armoured vehicles and body armour, as well as funding for new police apartments in the 2027 budget.

These commitments indicate that the government’s stated support for the service includes both operational equipment and measures intended to improve officers’ working and living conditions. The President did not provide a comprehensive breakdown of all logistics required by the service or a timeline for every planned intervention.

Security and Public Confidence

President Mahama also linked Ghana’s security environment to the country’s appeal as a destination for visitors. He observed that people wanted to visit Ghana because they regarded it as the safest country in West Africa.

The statement reflected the President’s view of the relationship between security and public confidence, although he did not cite comparative regional security data to substantiate the assessment. His message to the police was to continue the work he had praised and maintain the progress he believed the country had made.

The speech placed particular emphasis on the contribution of officers who work to prevent crime, investigate offences and protect communities. It also highlighted the government’s responsibility to provide the resources and welfare support needed for those duties.

While the President’s remarks offered a positive assessment of the current security situation, detailed crime statistics would be needed to measure the scale and distribution of the improvements he described.

For now, President Mahama has called on the Ghana Police Service to sustain its efforts, pledging continued logistical support as the government pursues its stated objective of improving public safety and protecting those responsible for delivering it.