Even though Ghana is witnessing a proliferation of banks in the country - because of their claim that government's prudent economic policies have created a conducive atmosphere for banking activities - they face a huge security threat as a result of inadequate security measures. Ghana currently has about 25 universal banks since the liberalisation and transformation of the banking industry. They have over 250 branch offices which include Ghana Commercial Bank's 141 offices. There are about 130 Rural Banks with over 500 branch offices throughout the country. Surprisingly, none of these branches has Closed Circuit Cameras (CCTV) monitoring human activities within the banking halls and their precincts, apart from their headquarters, our checks indicate. Speaking to The Statesman recently, Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior, Nana Obiri Boahene expressed worry about the lack of adequate security measures at the various banks in the country. "I don’t know why they refuse to install CCTV cameras, this would have made the work of the security services easier in tracing and apprehending criminals and armed bank robbers” even after the security agencies’ recommendations, he stated. For instance, the Minister said, the armed robbers who attacked the Madina branch of ECOBANK would have been easily traced, identified and apprehended if a CCTV was installed to monitor activities. He described the recent attacks on banks as “frightening” and capable of killing the growing banking culture in the country which has seen the establishment of several new banks. Nana Obiri Boahene called on the Association of Bankers to initiate an effective strategy to revive the hopes of Ghanaians in banking activities lest their clients are forced to hide their earnings under their beds with the view that depositing them in a bank was not safe. He also thinks, the Police Service should consider posting plainclothes Police Officers at the various financial institutions, instead of compelling them to wear their uniforms. “They could be prime targets of robbers in a bid to have access to these institutions when they are allowed to wear their uniforms,” he noted. It will be recalled that a Police Officer accompanying a bullion van on June 23rd 2008 was shot dead by armed robbers at the Madina branch of the ECOBANK, who then made away with GH¢60, 000. Prior to that robbery, another bank which operates close to the Police Headquarters was attacked and the robbers made away with a significant but undisclosed amount. The recent armed robberies have raised concerns about the preparedness of the Police Service to curb the nefarious activities of armed robbers, as well as the factors that go into the siting of banks and other financial institutions. At the moment, majority of banks in the country are sited with little consideration to security, a police source has told this paper. In the case of the Madina robbery incident for instance, the bullion van, guarded by men who have not received any special training in such matters, had to park outside the bank in the full glare of the public. A security camera would have gone to some extent to mitigate the mistakes made. As well, officers assigned to bullion and guard duties at the banks require special training and equipment to carry out their duties, our source argues. Bank officials, who spoke to The Statesman on condition of anonymity, insisted they had instituted adequate security measures, but conceded there was room for improvement. All of them refused to comment on the issue of installing surveillance cameras, citing banking confidentiality. In this modern day of sophisticated crime, heightened security awareness and robust counter surveillance will be the real counter to the threat of crime. Everything apart from this will derail our efforts at creating wealth and a comfortable livelihood for ourselves. Source: Statesman