According to Mr. Emmanuel Quartey, managing director of Edern Security Services Limited, a close partnership between state security organisations and private security firms is required to combat crime in Ghana and throughout Africa.
Despite a lack of information regarding the infrastructure used by private security firms in Ghana, he claimed that these firms had a sizable human capital base and security networks that can still be used to acquire useful intelligence.
He claimed that in order for state security organisations to effectively combat crime, they must take advantage of this edge.
“A close collaboration between private and public security agencies would lead to a mutually beneficial information sharing arrangements, with each party tapping into each other’s superior competencies for a better security architecture. Private security companies provide security to an overwhelming majority of the country’s infrastructure, with a large number of purposefully positioned security guards,” he said.
He was speaking at a breakfast meeting with senior staff of the company from across the country to create awareness on the negative impacts of terrorism, and the role of private security in curbing the imminent danger.
He stated that: “Over the years, private security has been designed to augment the activities of state security. Private security is the provision of security by a person other than a public servant to protect a person or property. The remit and focus of private security is detection and prevention of harm, misappropriation or unauthorised access/use of a property”.
According to Mr. Quartey, law enforcement agencies can gather information about incidents through reporting by private security staff; gain additional ‘work-force’ (force multiplier) by relying on private security; prepare private security companies to assist in emergencies and coordinate efforts to safeguard the nation’s critical infrastructure. Private security companies, on the other hand, can also gain information from law enforcement regarding threats and crime trends – and coordinate plans for evacuation and transportation during emergencies.