A contingent of 5,000 strong police, backed by ‘Black Maria’ (Prison on Wheel), are ready for deployment to Akwatia, in the Eastern Region, to ensure the safe conduct of the impending by-election.
The 5000 personnel have been drawn from the General Duties, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), Formed Police Unit (FPU) and a medical team from the Police Hospital.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who disclosed this to the media recently, stated that the inclusion of the ‘Black Maria’ for the first time in its operations was to foster a speedy evacuation of troublemakers and for that matter, suspects during the election to the right place for confinement.
According to the IGP, six hundred out of the 5000 strong force benefitted from pre-deployment training at the High Risk Operations Training Centre at Boti, in the Yilo Krobo Municipality. This, he noted, was a testament of his outfit’s preparedness for the task ahead.
During the training at the centre, which was formally operationalised in 2020, the personnel went through counter terrorism training, rappelling, self defense, Very, Very Important Persons protection, jumping and shooting from moving vehicles, life saving swimming, shooting at targets from speeding motorbikes, physical training, police duties and crowned it with academic works in criminal law and criminal procedure.
The Police, IGP Yohuno told the gathering, are prepared and they will not tolerate any form of lawlessness. He noted that the ‘Black Maria’ is not just a vehicle, but symbolises police’s commitment to maintaining order and ensuring the safety of all citizens.
According to him, as the election day approaches, residents of Akwatia are breathing a sigh of relief, knowing that the police are taking proactive steps to prevent any potential unrest.
He stressed that the ‘Black Maria’ had a history, dating over a century ago in Boston, United States of America (USA), where a strong black woman by name Maria Lee, who ran a boarding house for sailors, was assisting police to arrest and transport criminals.
The police chief stated that her assistance and name became associated with ‘Black Maria’ and have since been adopted by police around the world.
Features of a Black Maria include coaches for high risk prisoners, washroom, handcuffs bay, no access to escape, cameras, intercom system connected between the driver and officers in their cubicle onboard, for the modern type of ‘Black Maria’.
The repressive character of ‘black maria’, he went on, was much felt in neighbouring Nigeria some years ago, when the dreaded Mobile Police Force would deploy and its mere sight alone sent shivers down the spines.
Eastern South Regional Police Command
Meanwhile, the Eastern South Regional Police Command has arrested five suspects in separate operations at Akwatia in the Eastern Region for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
These operations, conducted between 22nd and 23rd August, 2025 form part of intensified security measures ahead of the Akwatia By-Election.
On August 22, 2025 near St. Dominic Hospital in Akwatia, Police intercepted a vehicle driven by suspect Bernard Kumi Ofosu and a search led to the discovery of one Tulpar double-barrel pump-action gun, four AAA live cartridges and two FTB blank cartridges.
The suspect admitted ownership of the firearm and produced a valid license. He is currently in custody assisting investigations, with the exhibits retained for verification.
In a separate operation at the Akwatia Y-Junction snap check, Police arrested suspect Joshua Amenuku after retrieving 15 live BB cartridges from him. A subsequent search at his residence uncovered one ADLER TULPA pump-action gun and five additional live BB cartridges.
Later that evening, Police intercepted a Toyota Hilux pick-up at the Boadua Livingstone snap check point and arrested suspects Enoch Asiedu, and Lu Youyan, a Chinese national, after four live BB cartridges were retrieved from the vehicle. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the ammunition allegedly belonged to their employer, one Mohammed, identified as the owner of the vehicle. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest suspect Mohammed for interrogation, while the two suspects remain in custody assisting investigations.
On August 23, 2025 Police officers on duty at the Boadua Livingstone Junction snap check point again arrested suspect Pieterson Joseph, after retrieving one (1) ADLER TULPAR pump-action gun and 46 AAA and BB cartridges from his vehicle. The suspect admitted ownership of the firearm.
On 23/08/2025, officers on snap-check duty at Staff Village Boadua, intercepted a Toyota Tundra pick-up with registration no WR 5535-13 from Asamankese direction towards Boadua. A search conducted in the Tundra pick up revealed the three pump Action guns including, (1) Pardus pump Action gun, one (1) Hulglu Atroe pump Action and one (1) other pump Action gun.
Suspect Stephen Nkansah claimed ownership of two of the Pump Action guns and stated that, the third Pump Action gun belonged to his chief. Meanwhile, suspect Stephen Nkansah has been arrested and detained for investigation.
The Eastern South Regional Police Command assures the public and all stakeholders that these operations would be intensified as part of efforts to ensuring security, law and order before, during, and after the Akwatia By-Election.
