By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh |
As part of efforts by the Ghana Police Service to carry out their core mandate of protection of life and property and prevention and detection of crimes, the Service has now moved to Community Policing, coming down to the citizenry they serve.
Such was the case when the Ho Municipal Police Command on Sunday, June 30 took security lecture to the Global Evangelical Church, Ho Fiave Victory Chapel upon the invitation of the leadership of the church.
D/Insp. Michael Kweinor Kweitsu who led the presentation on security issues with emphasis on terrorism and kidnapping, charged Christian faithful to play a part in making the work of the police service, the principal internal law enforcing agency easier.
D/Insp. Kweitsu said there was the need for everyone to get involved in the security matters of the country emphasising that people should be vigilant and observant, and report suspicious persons and activities to the Police and other security agencies.
He noted that these among others such as providing reliable and timely information to the police and investing in both physical and electronic security for example CCTVs at vulnerable places including churches would help beef up security within the country.
The police officer who delved into the two worrying security challenges, terrorism and kidnapping, describing them as “the use of force or violence against persons or property” for purposes of “intimidation, coercion or ransom” and “the act of taking a person or group of persons without their consent or permission usually for purposes of ransom or ritual and other purposes” respectively, said the men and women of God must not remain quiet.
According to him, “crimes are linked” and kidnapping could be “a small symptom of bigger crimes” which could be rooted in psychological and ideological causes and sometimes, “a logical extension of political failure” underscoring the importance of Christians to develop interest in national affairs.
D/Insp. Kweitsu provided statistics on recent examples of attacks including that on three churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019 (Easter Sunday) which claimed hundreds of lives injuring many, to make the point that “it doesn’t matter who, what or where you are, we are all at risk” while asking for a concerted effort to make it impossible or difficult for such criminals to be successful in their acts.
He advised large buildings such as churches, schools, shopping centres, etc which could be targets of such attacks to designate exit and assembly points to avoid stampede in the event of terrorist attack in addition to other security measures to stay safe and forestall attacks.
On kidnapping, he asked that victims “remain calm, know who the kidnappers are, what they want and of what value you are them” adding that, victims should cooperate and not provoke the kidnappers to shoot at them, look out for details in the environment and drink any time possible in order to stay alive.
The Police Detective concluded by calling on parents and guardians to take steps to protect their children from being kidnapped insisting that they teach their young ones not to enter into strangers’ cars.
The Parish Pastor, Rev. I.C. Agbenuvor in an interview with Voltaonlinegh said the church found it necessary to invite security experts to speak on security matters following recent happenings in Ghana and the sub-region.
Rev. Agbenuvor said as and when the need arises, the church would invite the Police to make presentations for the benefit of members and society.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
