By Samuel Nyamekye Jnr.
The security and personal safety of Honourable Members of Parliament (MPs) have become a matter of urgent national concern following growing dissatisfaction within the Parliamentary Protection Unit (PPU) of the Ghana Police Service.
The PPU, which is mandated to provide close-protection services to Members of Parliament, is currently experiencing a serious morale crisis that poses a direct threat to the effectiveness, reliability, and continuity of parliamentary security operations.
Key Concerns
At the centre of this challenge is a perceived inequity in the distribution of allowances within the unit. Officers assigned as close-protection bodyguards have expressed deep dissatisfaction over their exclusion from the “medorfo” allowance, which is paid to officers on general duty.
This disparity has generated frustration, resentment, and declining motivation among officers who perform some of the most demanding and high-risk security functions in the Police Service.
Unlike general duty officers, PPU bodyguards routinely work extended and irregular hours, often far exceeding the standard eight-hour workday stipulated under Constitutional Instrument (CI) 76. Despite this, they are not entitled to overtime allowances provided for under the same instrument, leaving many officers feeling undervalued and unfairly treated.
Compounding the problem are reports of alleged disrespect and lack of appreciation from some Honourable Members toward their assigned security personnel. Such conduct, if left unaddressed, further erodes morale and undermines the professionalism and effectiveness of parliamentary security arrangements.
Security Risk Implications
Disturbingly, there are indications that several bodyguards are considering withdrawing from close-protection duties to seek reassignment to general police duties. Should this occur, it would create a serious security gap, expose Members of Parliament to heightened risk, and weaken the institutional protection framework of the Legislature.
Call for Immediate Intervention
In light of these developments, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive review of the allowance structure, welfare conditions, and operational support systems within the Parliamentary Protection Unit.
Fair compensation, recognition of service, improved working conditions, and respect for officers performing close-protection duties are essential to restoring morale and sustaining high security standards for the nation’s lawmakers.
I respectfully call on His Excellency, the President of the Republic, the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Police Council to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves.
The men and women assigned to protect Honourable Members of Parliament make significant personal sacrifices—often separated from their families and exposed to danger—in service to the nation.
A sustained lack of motivation, whether from institutional neglect or poor interpersonal treatment, risks diminished performance and could ultimately compromise national security.
This matter requires swift, decisive, and coordinated action to prevent irreversible damage to parliamentary security and to uphold the safety and dignity of Ghana’s democratic institutions.