The Ministry of the Interior has begun a nationwide monitoring and sensitisation of Private Security Organisations (PSOs), Key Cutting, Rubber Stamp and Seal Operators in Accra.
The monitoring exercise is to streamline activities of the operators, sensitise operators on the laws governing the services and the sanctions for failing to register or license their businesses with the Ministry of the Interior as well as sensitise the public on the services of the Ministry.
The Head of Public Affairs of the Ministry, Alhaji Zakari Musah who spoke to the operators during the exercise stated that the move to conduct a nationwide monitoring exercise by officials of the Ministry in conjunction with the Ghana Police Service, is critical to ensure compliance to the Laws which constitutes the legal basis of the services rendered by the Ministry.
He explained that Section 38 (1) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) and Regulation 5 of L.I. 1571 (1992) forms the legal basis for the Ministry’s engagement in the licensing and monitoring of the activities of PSOs.
He added that specifically, Section 38 (1) of the Police Service Act, 1970 ( Act 350), states that ‘The Minister may by legislative instrument make regulations controlling the establishment of and operations of any private security organisations and requiring the registration of all private security organisations’. For this reason, he said, PSO’s cannot operate without registration or licensing of their operations with the Ministry.
On Locksmiths, which is also known as key cutting, Alhaji Zakari said Locksmiths (Licensing) Act, 1994 Act 488 states that a person shall not engage in the business of making locks, repairing locks or cutting keys unless that person is granted a license by the Minister.
The Head of Public Affairs urged all players within the sector to register or renew their licenses to regularize their operations with the Ministry to avoid sanctions.
