Govt urged to regulate private security companies

Accra, April 9, GNA- The Association of Private Security Organization of Ghana (APSOG) have called for the review of the legislative instrument governing the industry to regulate the increasing proliferation of the private security companies.

They contend that a strict regulation of the industry, which is booming, would debar people with suspicious intent, particularly foreigners who have cashed in on the lack of a regulatory body, to set up security companies that could become a security threat to the country.

Nana Adu Agyemang the IV, Chairman of APSOG in an interaction with journalists in Accra asked why the authorities were allowing foreigners, who had doubtful backgrounds and intents to form private security companies in the country, when the law did not permit it. "The participation of foreigners in private security in the country should be reviewed. Our locally-bred security companies are up to the task. And we need to sustain our dignity as Ghanaians. "Even as the doors of Ghana are open for investment, foreigners should not be allowed to control areas that deal with security. We should not compromise our national security.

"In view of the oil boom, should we allow just anyone with money to come in and create security companies", he asked

"The security of this nation is important and foreigners should not be left to determine this for us", he said.

Nana Agyemang stressed that government, as a matter of urgency, consider the number of security companies in the country, set up a supervisory board to oversee and regulate the industry to make it relevant to current situation.

"The private security industry should attract the attention of government because it is big and booming".

He proposed that government should consider the industry amongst the Small and Medium Enterprises and finance it in view of the rate of employment the sector generates.

Nana Agyemang called for closer collaboration between the APSOG and state security agencies companies to bolster the peace and security in the country.

"We are not there to get in the way of the security agencies but to complement what they are doing.

"And we are prepared to join forces with the police, help with logistics and ready to assist during the December elections", he said. There are about 350 private security companies in the country; majority with faceless owners and no fixed addresses, but only 40 are registered with the association.