8 private security companies with unapproved uniforms arrested

Eight private security companies have been arrested by the Police in Accra for using unapproved uniforms.

Some personnel from the eight companies, who wore the unapproved uniforms to their various duty posts Monday, were picked up by the Police to signify the arrest of the employers.

The personnel from Guo Security, Westec Security, Escort Security, Omega Security, Stallion Security, First Watch Security, TSSL, GES and Epsilon were picked from the Airport Shell, Oak Plaza, Bank of Ghana and other companies on the Spintex road.

The companies are to report to the Police Headquarters in Accra to be processed for court, and each of them could face up to a fine of one million cedis or one year imprisonment or revocation of operational licence.

Monday’s nationwide exercise to clampdown on the private security companies without the approved uniforms, followed the expiration of a year grace period given to them by the Ghana Police.

The Police explained the proliferation of unapproved uniforms was becoming a great concern for the service.

As part of measures to streamline the activities of private security firms in the country, the Inspector General of Police in 2017 launched three prescribed set of uniforms for the private security organizations.

On October 16 this year, such companies were given up to October 25 to comply by providing their personnel with the required uniforms.

But most companies have failed to comply, a situation that triggered the clampdown exercise.