APSOG was formed in 1998 with a total number of 25 registered companies. In 2005, its numbers rose to 57 and currently the organisation embraces more than 350 companies.
APSOG’s primary concern is regulation of the industry. The private security industry is rapidly growing in Ghana and today has a strength of over 15,000, spread all over the country. APSOG wishes to ensure that the industry is fully regulated in order to be able to co-operate efficiently with stakeholders.
APSOG is committed to fighting the perceived problem of inadequate official recognition of the industry. The private security organisations (PSO’s) are not just a ‘money making industry’ as many seem. These companies are everywhere, and are equipped with the necessary communication infrastructure to support the police when called upon to do so.
To resolve this, APSOG has had a series of meetings with the Ministry of the Interior, as well as periodic meetings with the police service.
APSOG has introduced some organised training for PSO personnel (management as well as guards) and is working toward a standardised training package. APSOG regularly conducts ‘Training of Trainers’ coursse at the Private Security Training Institute in Accra, and plans more of such training sessions. Professionalism is not yet up to the standard APSOG aspires to, though significant and noticeable progress has been made.
