Either knowingly or unknowingly, many private—and even some public—institutions in Ghana have turned their security personnel into errand ‘boys and girls.’
As troubling and unprofessional as this may sound, it poses a serious threat to the safety of innocent citizens who walk in and out of these institutions daily.
Visit banks, clinics, hospitals, companies, ministries, churches, and schools, and you will often find security personnel engaged in tasks far removed from their core duties. Instead of maintaining vigilance, they are seen moving around assisting clients, printing documents, helping to fill forms, and even leaving their posts to buy food for other staff members.
This raises critical questions:
Are these activities part of their job description?
Is the primary role of security personnel not vigilance and protection?
A further concern is that some security personnel themselves have grown comfortable with these distractions. The opportunity to receive small tips or tokens of appreciation from clients often encourages them to take on these additional tasks willingly. While this may seem harmless, it gradually shifts their focus away from their primary responsibility and undermines the professionalism required of their role.
What is even more concerning is that when incidents occur, these same personnel—who were distracted with unrelated duties—are expected to provide accurate, first-hand reports. In many cases, this results in conflicting or unreliable accounts, which can compromise investigations and, in some instances, lead to innocent individuals being treated unjustly.
Technology, like everything else, has its advantages and limitations. The widespread use of CCTV cameras has undoubtedly enhanced surveillance. However, over-reliance on such systems, at the expense of active human vigilance, can render security personnel ineffective. Cameras may record events, but they do not prevent them. Often, footage is only reviewed after damage has already been done.
There is also a dangerous sense of complacency in some institutions—“nothing has ever happened here”—which further fuels negligence among security staff.
The root of the problem, in many cases, is cost-cutting. Institutions assign multiple non-security tasks to guards to avoid hiring additional staff. As the saying goes, “if more, less divide; if less, more divide.” While this may seem economically convenient, it comes at a high cost to safety and accountability.
Even in the spiritual realm, we are reminded in Scripture to remain vigilant. As stated in the First Epistle of Peter (5:8–9), we are called to be sober and watchful, for the enemy prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. This call to vigilance applies not only spiritually but also in our social and institutional responsibilities.
Security should never be treated lightly. The safety of lives and property depends on it. Institutions, companies, and security firms must take this issue seriously by ensuring that security personnel strictly adhere to their professional duties.
Only then can we guarantee a safer environment for all.
By Rev. Fr. Nicholas Nibetol Aazine, SVD
(Coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Ghana-Liberia Province)
Divine Word Missionaries: A Catholic Missionary Society, Serving God through Humanity
nicholasbetol@gmail.com
