The Need To Be Security Conscious

The security of our country is the responsibility of government. No doubt. We do not intend to exempt government from that responsibility.

THE PUBLISHER is however of the opinion that as a society, we ought to up our security consciousness by several notches higher.

Yes, it is true government and the Ghana Police Service for that matter must ensure we are safe in our homes. But the onus also lies on us as individuals to do the basic and little things to keep us all safe.

In the name of hospitality, we over engage all manner of strangers and persons of suspicious character.

An average Ghanaian would not mind his child running an errand for a total stranger. An average Ghanaian would not mind offering a lift to a complete stranger standing by the road side.  An average Ghanaian does not mind driving late in the night with his car window glasses rolled down even when there are valuables in the back seat.

Anyone who has stayed in Europe or even some other African countries would attest to the fact that Ghanaians are generally relaxed with issues of security.

For instance, as a people, we seem not to have accepted the importance of operating cashless society. We still have persons walking out of our banking halls carrying on them large amounts of money.

Well, why the banks would allow such bulk cash to be cleared over the counter is another case worth probing.

We still have our marts and shops operating a system where they keep bulk cash on them.

The average Ghanaian home owner does not know any emergency security number of the Ghana Police Service or the police patrol team for his neighborhood.

These are simple things we should all not take for granted in the fight against armed robbery.

The Police Service has a role to play, but more importantly we as citizens also have our roles to play.

We should not be shy in asking questions when we detect a suspicious character wandering our neighbourhood.

We should not be hesitant in alerting the Police of a suspicious vehicle parked at odd places in our neighborhood.

It is sad that Ghanaians generally do not have an appetite for giving information to the Police. We seem to have over accepted the ‘I’m minding my business’ type of lifestyle.

Playing passive and over relying on government and the Ghana Police Service alone is not the best way to fight crime.