Police Cut Highway Robbery, Murder Cases -JM

President John Dramani Mahama has commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for his leadership of the Ghana Police Service, citing efforts to improve public safety and reduce crime.

He said murder cases and highway robberies had reduced under the current police administration, attributing the progress to efforts to strengthen policing and improve security across the country.

President Mahama made the remarks on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at the commissioning of an 85-bed clinical ward complex at the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra, named after the IGP.

The President also announced plans to allocate GH¢300 million in the 2027 Budget for the construction of 250 new apartments for the Police Service and approximately GH¢200 million to complete the long-delayed Police Hospital expansion project.

He said the investments formed part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen the operational capacity of the Police Service while improving the welfare and working conditions of officers.

President Mahama further announced that the second batch of armoured personnel carriers was expected to be delivered in the coming weeks to provide additional protection for police officers.

He recalled that the government presented more than 150 vehicles to the Police Service in December last year to enhance its operations and improve the protection of personnel.

Police Hospital expansion

President Mahama said the newly commissioned ward complex would expand the hospital’s capacity to care for officers injured in the line of duty and other patients requiring urgent medical attention.

He noted that the Police Hospital played an important role in Ghana’s national healthcare system, serving not only police personnel and their families, but also members of the general public.

“In an emergency, whether a road accident, a sudden illness or a public health crisis, additional hospital capacity can make a vital difference between life and death,” he said.

The President stressed that the quality of healthcare delivery depended not only on infrastructure, but also on the availability of trained and motivated personnel, essential medicines and properly maintained equipment.

He urged the hospital’s management to uphold high standards of hygiene, patient safety and clinical practice, while ensuring that medical equipment was serviced regularly and essential supplies remained available.

President Mahama also called for greater attention to the mental health of police officers, noting that repeated exposure to violence, tragedy and distress could have lasting psychological effects.

He said counselling, mental health support and appropriate treatment should be accessible to officers without fear or stigma.

“When officers know that their health and welfare is being taken seriously, they can serve with greater confidence and focus,” he said.

The President further urged healthcare professionals at the facility to treat patients with dignity, compassion and respect, regardless of their circumstances.

GH¢200m for hospital completion

President Mahama disclosed that Cabinet had decided to terminate the 22-year-old contract for the main Police Hospital expansion project following prolonged disagreements and cost overruns involving the contractor.

He said he had instructed the Minister for Finance to make provision for approximately GH¢200 million in the 2027 Budget to complete the outstanding works.

The main expansion project includes consulting rooms, paediatric facilities, sterilisation areas, CT scan equipment, three general surgical theatres, a theatre recovery ward and a 222-capacity morgue.

To support emergency response and patient transportation, the President also announced the donation of two new ambulances to the Police Hospital.

He said the ambulances would help ensure that injured officers and other patients requiring urgent medical attention were transported safely and received timely treatment.

President Mahama stressed that the vehicles must be supported by trained personnel, appropriate life-support equipment and regular maintenance to ensure their effective use.

New ward increases capacity to 205 beds. The commissioning of the 85-bed clinical ward complex brings the Police Hospital’s total bed capacity from 120 to 205.

The hospital’s Medical Director, Commissioner of Police (COP) Dr Samuel Otu-Nyarko, said the additional beds would help address longstanding challenges in accommodating police personnel who required admission.

He explained that the hospital also attended to civilian patients, making it difficult to accommodate all police officers requiring treatment when the existing beds were occupied.

According to him, the new facility would reduce congestion, improve patient comfort and strengthen the hospital’s capacity to meet the growing healthcare needs of police personnel.

Dr Otu-Nyarko said construction of the ward complex began with the cutting of the sod on October 8, 2025, and was completed within a year, coinciding with the hospital’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2026.He expressed appreciation to IGP Yohuno and the Police Management Board for their support in completing the project.

The Medical Director also disclosed that the new complex had been constructed on a site previously occupied by a large open drain that had created a public health nuisance within the hospital.

Interior Minister praises Mahama

The Minister for the Interior and Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, described the facility as evidence of the government’s commitment to strengthening public institutions and improving access to quality healthcare.

He said the investment reflected the government’s recognition of the sacrifices made by police officers in protecting the country and the need to provide them with adequate healthcare, improved working conditions and better welfare support.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak expressed appreciation to President Mahama for supporting the development of the Police Hospital and other initiatives aimed at modernising the country’s security services.

President Mahama congratulated the Ghana Police Service and all stakeholders who contributed to the construction of the new ward complex.

He urged the hospital’s management to maintain the facility and ensure that it delivered quality healthcare for years to come.

The President subsequently commissioned the 85-bed clinical ward complex and declared it open for use by the Ghana Police Service and the general public.

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