# Security Services in Ghana Canonical page: https://closeprotectionhire.com/countries/ghana/ Security services in Ghana. Close protection and secure transport for Accra and key Ghanaian cities from operators licensed by Ghana's Ministry of the Interior. ## Regulations - **Licensing**: Private security organisations in Ghana are controlled under section 38 of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) and the Police Service (Private Security Organisations) Regulations, 1992 (L.I. 1571). The Ministry of the Interior licenses them, and in June 2026 it suspended a company's licence for firearms and uniform breaches. Ask any provider for its current Ministry licence before engagement. - **Firearms**: Private security in Ghana is unarmed. Regulation 13 of the Police Service (Private Security Organisations) Regulations, 1992 (L.I. 1571) prohibits private security organisations and their personnel from possessing or using firearms and ammunition, as the Minister for the Interior restated on 23 June 2026. A personal firearm licence, issued by the Ghana Police Service under the Arms and Ammunition Decree, 1972 (NRCD 9), cannot be used to run a security business. Treat any offer of armed private guards as a warning sign. - **Foreign operators**: Section 38(2) of the Police Service Act covers any organisation providing watching, guarding, patrolling or protection services. No separate licensing route for a foreign security company could be confirmed on 6 October 2026. Use a Ministry-licensed Ghanaian operator for protective work in Ghana, and take local legal advice before a foreign team carries out protective duties. The firearms ban in regulation 13 applies to every private security organisation. Sources, checked 2026-10-06: - [Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), text (GhaLII)](https://ghalii.org/akn/gh/act/1970/350/eng@1970-12-31/source.pdf) - [Ghana News Agency, Private security organisations prohibited from possessing firearms (23 June 2026)](https://gna.org.gh/2026/06/private-security-organisations-prohibited-from-possessing-firearms/) - [Ghanaian Times, Interior Ministry suspends Kantanka Security Services licence (21 June 2026)](https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/interior-ministry-suspends-kantanka-security-services-licence-over-uniform-and-firearms-breach/) - [Ghana Police Service, Central Firearms Unit](https://police.gov.gh/en/index.php/central-firearms-registry-cfr/) ## Cities covered - **Accra**: Ghana's capital and primary commercial hub. Robbery at knifepoint and armed robbery have increased since 2021. Criminal kidnapping is documented across Accra, Takoradi, and Kumasi. Airport and hotel transfers are the primary high-risk points for visiting executives. Ghana is West Africa's most stable democracy and a significant hub for international business, NGO operations, and extractive-sector activity. Accra hosts the regional headquarters of multiple multinational companies. The country's long-held reputation for relative safety has been tested since 2021 by a documented rise in robbery and criminal kidnapping. FCDO maintains a general travel advisory for Ghana. The terrorism warning has been elevated to reflect JNIM spillover from Burkina Faso into Ghana's northern border areas. For Accra-focused operations, organised crime is the primary threat category. ## The kidnapping picture Criminal kidnapping has been reported across Accra, Takoradi, and Kumasi in recent years. These are not politically motivated abductions. They are financially motivated criminal acts targeting individuals perceived as affluent, including expatriates, returning diaspora, and local business owners. K&R insurance is a recommended baseline for any Ghana deployment lasting more than a short business visit. It does not guarantee a resolution: it provides crisis management resource and financial backstop. ## Northern border risk Ghana's northern regions share a border with Burkina Faso, which has experienced a significant deterioration in security since 2021. JNIM activity in Burkina Faso, including attacks on military and civilian targets close to the Ghanaian border, has changed the risk calculus for northern Ghana. FCDO advises against all travel to northern border areas. Operations in Accra and the south are not directly affected by this threat. ## Private security licensing in Ghana The Ministry of the Interior licenses private security organisations under the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) and L.I. 1571. The industry has a wide quality range. Registered and vetted operators exist and are identifiable. Unregistered operators offering cut-price protection are also present. Distinguishing between them requires documented vetting rather than word-of-mouth referrals. Private close protection in Ghana is unarmed. Regulation 13 of L.I. 1571 prohibits private security organisations and their personnel from possessing or using firearms. ## Operational context For visiting executives in Accra, the primary risk management priorities are: vetted airport transfers, hotel and venue selection avoiding known hotspots, and route variation. Advance planning reduces exposure to the most common criminal methodologies. A written pre-travel assessment is appropriate for any first-time Ghana itinerary. Source: FCDO Travel Advice: Ghana (2025). Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) and L.I. 1571, and Ghana News Agency report of 23 June 2026 on regulation 13 (checked 6 October 2026). OSAC Ghana Country Security Report 2024. Our vetted operators provide [close protection and executive protection](/services/executive-protection/) and [security driver services](/services/security-drivers/) across Ghana. For a detailed local assessment, see our [Accra city briefing](/cities/accra/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Ghana safer than other West African countries? Ghana has historically been one of the more stable countries in West Africa. The comparative picture has worsened since 2021. Robbery, including armed robbery, has increased in Accra and other commercial cities. The JNIM terrorism threat from Burkina Faso has moved closer to Ghana's northern border. Ghana is not in the same threat category as Nigeria or the Sahel, but the risk picture requires professional management. ### What is K&R insurance and why is it recommended for Ghana? Kidnap and Ransom insurance provides cover for negotiation costs, ransom payments, and crisis management fees in the event of an abduction. Criminal kidnapping in Accra, Takoradi, and Kumasi has made it a recommended baseline for corporate travellers and expatriates operating in Ghana. It does not replace physical security: it provides a financial and operational backstop if a kidnapping occurs despite preventive measures. ### How close is the JNIM threat to Accra? JNIM (Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin) operates primarily in the Sahel and has extended activity into northern Burkina Faso, which shares Ghana's northern border. There have been no JNIM-attributed attacks in Accra or the south. The threat is concentrated in Ghana's Upper East, Upper West, and Northern regions. For Accra-based operations, the JNIM risk is background rather than immediate, but it has elevated Ghana's overall threat assessment and warrants inclusion in pre-travel planning.