From next year, private security companies would only be allowed to employ personnel who have undergone a standardised police training, the Ghana Police Service has announced.

As part of the training, the onus would be on the Ghana Police Service to undertake background checks on personnel to ensure that they have no criminal records.

DSP Kwaku Anor Dompreh, Staff Officer, Private Security Operations Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, told 3news.com on Tuesday that the 3-week certification training is aimed at “injecting professionalism” into the operations of private security companies in the country.

List of persons who passed the training would be forwarded to the Ministry of Interior for clearance, DSP Anor Dompreh noted.

The Ministry of Interior would then issue the qualified personnel with identification cards, which would be used to seek for employment in any private security firm of their choice.

He therefore warned that any private security company that employs persons who have not been certified by the ministry would be sanctioned.

Shadrach Mensah, who is on the Private Security Desk, at the Interior Ministry, entreated private security companies to crosscheck with the ministry when in doubt with ID presented by any personnel.

He also noted that list of qualified personnel as well as companies approved by the ministry would be available on its website for easy accessibility.