Bridging the Security gap in Ghana: The role of Private Security Actors

Abstract

Traditionally, the police have been the mechanism for protecting the right to security. Policing is an authority conferred by the country’s constitutional system to secure generally the comfort, safety, morals, health, and prosperity of its citizens by preserving public order. The term private or non-state actors broadly refers to individuals, groups and organisations that provide security services, but are not part of the formal, statutory institutions and agencies mandated to provide security related services, such as the police, the military, intelligence agencies, or para-military organisations like the Immigration Service. Non -state security actors have received greater attention from scholars and policy-makers in recent years as their prominence and persistence in many weak states have become increasingly acknowledged. In many developing countries, state security provision has largely been inadequate, being focused mainly on using military, police and intelligence services for state preservation against external aggression and internal disorder. An inordinate focus on this form of security has resulted in the neglect of the physical and other socio-economic needs of a majority of citizens, who have consequently resorted to `self-help' mechanisms using the private, non-state sector to address their security needs. Therefore, this study sought to empirically evaluate the implication of complementing private security actors in the policing of Ghana for the police administration. The researcher used both the qualitative and quantitative strategies (mixed-methodology) in the study. The qualitative approach was used in describing and presenting the background information on the implication of complementing the activities of the Ghana Police Service with private security actors, while the quantitative approach dealt with providing the needed numerical data to assess the working relationship between private security actors and the Ghana police service, and the perception the public hold about private security actors in the Country. The following major findings emerged; both the police and the private security have not complemented their patrol activities frequently; both public actors and police personnel see the importance in collaboration and complementing their activities together; the working relationship between the police and the private security actors was found to be  partially effective; there are inadequate platforms for both the police and the private security actors to complement their activities together to enhance their working relationship. To enhance effective coordination between private and public security actors, the study recommended that; Security officers should be appointed as members of the police reserve force, but their powers and duties should be limited to matters concerning their employers.

Key Words: policing, constitutional mandate, security gap, complimentary roles, statutory institutions