Ghana police to receive covert operations vehicles and drones under new security drive
The Government of Ghana has announced that the Ghana Police Service (GPS) will shortly receive a set of covert-operations vehicles and unmanned aerial drones, part of a broader push to modernize security operations and leverage technology in the fight against crime.
The announcement comes on the heels of the December 4, 2025 commissioning of 40 new armoured and light-armoured vehicles for the police. Officials say the addition of covert-ops vehicles and drones will expand the Police’s capability for intelligence-led operations, surveillance, rapid response, and strategic deployment in crime-prone areas.
Under the plan, the covert vehicles will support special operations units, anti-gang raids, crime-hotspot patrols, and high-risk missions. The drones, according to security sources, will be used for aerial surveillance, tracking criminal movements, and monitoring insecure zones or forested areas, a tool especially relevant given Ghana’s ongoing challenges with illegal mining (galamsey), smuggling, and illicit activities in remote regions.
The government frames the upgrade as an essential modernization of the Police Service under the current administration. It is meant to provide a strategic advantage enabling law enforcement to act proactively rather than reactively, minimize risk to personnel, and efficiently allocate resources based on intelligence data.
While many see the upgrade as a step in the right direction, human-rights activists have urged transparency and oversight. They warn that the use of drones and covert operations must be regulated to protect citizens’ privacy and civil liberties. Observers say that proper legal frameworks, strict protocols, and judicial oversight must govern the deployment of these tools to prevent misuse.
Police leadership, for its part, has pledged to deploy the tools responsibly. They say deployment will be based strictly on intelligence and operational need, and that community policing and public trust remain key priorities. The government also indicated that training will be provided to officers to ensure compliance with national laws and respect for human rights.
As Ghana navigates a complex security environment including rising urban crime, highway robberies, and illegal mining, the covert-ops vehicles and drones are expected to become central tools in the state’s public-safety strategy. Whether the investment will yield long-term improvements depends not only on technology, but also on oversight, transparency, and respect for civil liberties.
