Private security agencies complement Police Service - Okaija

Govt proposes two bills

Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Feb 2000

Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior, on Wednesday told Parliament that it is the policy of the government to encourage the establishment of private security companies to complement the Ghana Police Service in law enforcement.

He said so far, there are 69 security companies in Ghana and that before any security organisation is licensed to operate, "it is properly screened and its activities are monitored to ensure that it does not become a menace to the society or threaten the peace and stability of the country".

Nii Okaija was responding to a parliamentary question on the Ministry's policy on the registration of private security companies.

On concerns that such security personnel could be turned into paramilitary, he said personnel of the private security agencies are not armed, though they wear uniforms.

Asked why the authorities would not recruit more police personnel instead of licensing private security organisations, the Minister said the government's policy on such companies followed popular demand.

Besides, he said, "the country's economy has expanded while population has grown, so what we used to do in the past should give way to the realities of the times" since those private security agencies complement the work of the police.

Nii Okaija told the House that the Bimbilla Police Station is undergoing rehabilitation and as soon as the remaining plumbing and sewerage works are completed, the station would be re-opened.

The Bimbilla Police Station was burnt down during the 1994 ethnic conflict in the North.

The Minister said the neighbouring Wulensi Police Station will however, be considered under the current 1999 to 2001 medium-term expenditure framework.

Asked whether he does not consider a police station at Wulensi as a necessary tool to prevent conflict since the town was hard hit during the Northern strife, Nii Okaija said it was the wish of the Ministry to open such facilities in every town but it is a question of the money.

On plans by the Ministry to check over-speeding by drivers plying the roads in Bechem township, Nii Okaija said the Brong Ahafo Regional Police would be directed to intensify checks on the main Kumasi-Sunyani road and the Bechem township to ensure the safety of both motorists and pedestrians.

He said additionally, the attention of the Ministry of Roads and Transport would be drawn to the problem with a request to provide speed ramps on the Bechem roads.

GRi../

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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Feb. 2000

The Bills and Cheques Bill and the Payment System Bill to replace the current Bills of Exchange Act will be laid before Parliament this year.

Other major changes expected this year include the establishment of a Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) for high value inter-bank payments and the introduction of a printer accreditation scheme for printers of cheques and other security measures.

Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, who was introducing the government's financial policy for 2000, told Parliament that the measure is part of the government's financial sector policy.

He said all banks, including those established since the freeze on the licensing of new banks was lifted, would be expected to meet internationally accepted accounting, auditing and financial standards, including those relating to capital adequacy and risk exposure as stipulated in the banking law.

Consequently, he said, the licenses of banks that do not meet the prescribed prudential requirements will be withdrawn.

Work is progressing towards the introduction of guidelines and prudential requirements to give effect to Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) Act to ensure that all the affected institutions comply with the provisions of that law.

The Government will also introduce a bill this year that will allow the operation of pension schemes supplemental to the one being run by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

Mr Peprah said such schemes would benefit from tax breaks and the mobilized funds would be a source for term lending which is vital for the development of mortgage finance in particular, and industry in general.

GRi../

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