Accra: The AfriKan Continental Union Consult (ACUC), Ghana Chapter, has urged the government to adequately resource and equip state security agencies to enable them to carry out their duties professionally and safeguard national security. Dr. Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, Executive Director of ACUC, emphasized the need for well-motivated security personnel to prevent susceptibility to financial inducements and lifestyle pressures that could compromise their integrity.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Aziginaateeg raised concerns about whether Ghana's security agencies are content with their current working conditions. He questioned if the existing frameworks for welfare, safety, leadership, and accountability are sufficiently supportive of effective service delivery and reward integrity and measurable performance.
Dr. Aziginaateeg highlighted that history has shown the importance of strong leadership and a well-managed security architecture for sustaining sovereign authority and protecting national integrity. He pointed out several structural weaknesses undermining effective national security, including inadequate intelligence gathering, poor communication systems, delayed decision-making, limited training, insufficient technological upgrades, and inadequate welfare and remuneration.
To strengthen national security, Dr. Aziginaateeg stressed the need to prioritize welfare and motivation, advocating for competitive remuneration, housing, healthcare, and family security as investments in national security. He also recommended continuous training, exposure to modern intelligence systems, and regular technological upgrades to ensure swift and accurate security responses.
The ACUC Executive Director further emphasized the importance of evaluating leadership performance within security institutions using measurable outcomes. He noted that agencies successfully recovering stolen public resources contribute directly to the country's GDP and that exceeding recovery and performance targets should lead to structured bonuses and rewards to promote accountability and professionalism.
Dr. Aziginaateeg cited examples from advanced security systems, such as Italy, where comprehensive state support for security personnel reduces vulnerability to corruption, making compromise an act of greed rather than survival. He stated that effective security institutions that combat corruption and graft help reclaim resources for national development, directly supporting poverty reduction and long-term growth.