Wages and Working Conditions of Private Security Workers in Ghana

2. Overview of the Private Security Sector in Ghana
2. OVERVIEW OF THE PRIVATE SECURITY
SECTOR IN GHANA
2.1. Distinction between Private and Public Security Firms
In simple terms, security may be defined as the protection of individuals and
their various complex and related physical and socio-economic needs from
physical harm. The state security apparatus or the public security institutions
and the emerging private security firms are the two main actors of providing
citizens and businesses with security. The frontline public security institutions
include the National Security Council, The Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana
Police Service, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Ghana
Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), and the
Prisons Service.
These institutions are mandated to protect the country from external and
internal aggression and to ensure that society is as close to crime-free as
possible. These institutions have the power of arrest and the right to the
use of coercive instruments available to the state. They can initiate and
press criminal charges against persons and institutions whose activities are
thought to hinder national security. Apart from these institutions, there are
a whole body of other institutions that are linked to the national security
apparatus. These include the office of the Attorney-General and the various
regional and district security councils. Personnel of these institutions are
also endowed with the power of arrest for prevention of crime. A cardinal
principle of the provision of public security is that citizens have a crucial role
to play. By providing information and collaborating with the state security
agencies, citizens have an important role in national security; and indeed
citizens are also endowed with the power of arrest.
However, as indicated in the introduction state provisioning of security has
proven to be inadequate. This has resulted in the emergence of private
security companies. Private security firms (employed in the private sector)
include those actors who provide security for people and property under
contract and for profit. They are limited by law to observing, reporting and
deterring crime. They are not authorised to use force or make arrests. They
are also not funded from public purse. Private security firms are expected to
collaborate with the state security agencies in the prevention and prosecution
of crime. The collaboration works through exchange of information that
helps to combat criminal activities. This collaboration is important given
the under-funding and under-staffing of the state security agencies. But
private security firms can covertly or overtly undermine national security by
recruiting miscreants and failing to train and pay their workers’ living wage.
Their workers can as well become active collaborators of criminal entities.
By providing information
and
collaborating
with the state
security agencies,
citizens
have an important
role in
national security;
and indeed
citizens are also
endowed with
the power of
arrest.
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