The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr James Oppong Boanuh, has called on the public to make their personal safety a priority.
According to him, much as the police had the mandate to ensure the safety of citizens, individuals had the fundamental responsibility of protecting themselves.
“It is important to note that personal security is a fundamental responsibility of every individual and we must all be alert and conscious of happenings in our environment and neighbourhood,” he said.
The IGP made the call in Accra on Thursday, December 12, 2019 as the keynote speaker to climax the six-month safety and security campaign put together by the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) with hashtags #GraphicStaySafe #ThinkSafetyStaySecure #ThinkSafeThinkSecurity.
Mr Boanuh emphasised that the police had deployed about 15,000 personnel to strategic zones across the country to maintain law and order during the yuletide.
He said the police had increased day-and-night patrols, community engagement, sensitisation to security matters and deployed some technological devices to enhance information gathering in their work.
The IGP commended the GCGL for putting together the initiative and writing well-researched stories during the six-month period to educate the public on safety and security.
He was accompanied by some of the top brass within the Ghana Police Service including the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah; Director-General of Public Affairs, ACP David Eklu, and the Head of Education Research and Training at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Superintendent Alexander Obeng.
‘Check what you eat and drink’
The Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Drug Registration and Inspectorate Division of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Mr Seth Seaneke, took his turn to caution the public against buying expired products.
“As we celebrate Christmas, the market will be flooded with many fake and expired products, including cosmetics. It is our responsibility to be vigilant and be on the lookout when buying any product from the market,” he stated.
Mr Seaneke also assured the public that the FDA would increase its visibility on the market in order to rid the markets of expired and unwholesome products.
Rationale for campaign
Explaining the rationale behind the safety and security campaign, the Director of News of GCGL, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, said many people were confronted with security challenges and “the editorial team of GCGL came up with the campaign on safety to educate the public on some safety practices that need to be observed.”
She said the campaign focused on safety in the markets, buildings, homes, offices, industry and what to do to ensure that everyone was secure.
“The Junior Graphic for instance educated children on how to stay safe as they walk to school and back. Graphic Showbiz educated the public on what to do when they are out at night to maintain safety always,” she said.
The Mirror took the public through various safety issues including weather warnings, considering emergencies while fixing burglar proofs, wiring standards, the danger of using gas cylinders which are leaking and making the home safe for children.
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