Interior Ministry has data on private security companies - ASPoG

Accra, May 13, GNA - Captain Tony Acquah, the Chairman, Association of Private Security Organisations of Ghana (ASPoG), on Wednesday refuted media reports that the Ministry of the Interior has no records on the number of private security companies in the country.

Capt. Acquah said the association was surprised at the publications because all private security companies were required to register with the Ministry for operating licenses before commencing business.

Addressing a news conference in Accra, Capt. Acquah said private security operators annually applied for the renewal of their operating licenses alongside documents such as Value Added Tax certificates, Social Security and National Insurance Trust clearance certificates, and Tax Clearance certificates among other things.

He said: 'It is therefore imperative that the Interior Ministry will keep an up to date data or record of all private security operations'.

Although not all private security companies are members of ASPoG, Capt. Acquah said the association was advocating for a regulatory body that would oversee the affairs of the private security industry.

In all, 1,053 private security companies have been registered by the Ministry, out of which 175 are in good-standing.

Out of the number, only 70 are members of ASPoG with the rest being freelance operators.

Capt. Acquah said the ASPoG operated under a code of ethics which required all members of the association to be duly registered and licensed by the Ministry which was renewed annually.

'All personnel have been vetted by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, and are privately investigated by member companies,' he said.

GNA