Interior Ministry directs private security personnel to get licence
The Ministry of the Interior has instituted a policy which enjoins all individuals seeking to be employed as private security men and women to first obtain a licence from the minister.
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Security men already employed are also to obtain the licence to enable them to continue working.
The Compulsory Biometric Enrolment and Licensing policy is aimed at reinforcing and enhancing the implementation of the Private Security Organisations Regulations of the Ghana Police Service.
In his address at a stakeholders forum on the policy in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr James Agalga, said private security organisations were not responsible for obtaining the licence for their personnel.
However, he said any private security organisation that employed an unlicensed person as a security person would be prosecuted.
The forum, which was organised by the Ministry of the Interior for private security companies to familiarise themselves with the policy, will be replicated nationwide.
Process
A private security person or prospective security person is required to submit his or her biometric personal details to the Ministry of the Interior, where a photograph of the applicant will be captured.
That will be followed by a background check of the applicant, after which a biometric identification card will be issued if the application is approved.
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Mr Agalga said the policy would facilitate the creation of a well-structured regulatory system for monitoring personnel of the private security sector, as well as the security companies.
He explained that the policy was expected to improve the operational standards of the private security service sector and facilitate the proper monitoring of activities in the sector.
He commended the private security service sector for its co-operation with the Ghana Police Service and immense contribution to satisfying national security needs.
Mr Agalga appealed to actors in the sector to co-operate with the ministry in the implementation of the policy.
Why reinforcement
In her remarks, the Chief Director of the ministry, Mrs Adelaide Annor-Kumi, explained that the reinforcement of the regulation followed the ministry’s observation of the rapid growth in the private security industry.
She said the ministry had, accordingly, become concerned about the calibre of personnel employed as private security persons and that when the calibre of individuals was checked the private security organisations would avoid enlisting of criminals.
Writer’s email: Doreen.andoh@graphic.com.gh