The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyemang, has cautioned event organizers to ensure the safety of patrons ahead of the series of events to be organized in commemoration of Beyond the Return.
Speaking at the Stakeholder Engagement with National Security and Event Organizers held on December 7, 2023, Akwasi Agyemang highlighted potential security threats and encouraged event organizers to be security-conscious.
“There are a few issues that are a bit concerning. We have had discussions with the IGP, and he made a charge to all of us that we need to have our security architecture at our events. There have been events that we have attended, and you don’t see any security officer there, which is very worrying because you can never tell what somebody else is planning. So you need to take security very seriously. We are appealing to people not to take things for granted, especially for events that are free.”
Additionally, Akwasi Agyemang also revealed the Authority’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to alleviate traffic congestion on roads to fast-track activities of Ghanaians, especially during this festive season.
“We have engaged with the Department of Urban Road and the MTTD of the Ghana Police Service, and I believe that very soon there will be a plan that would be rolled out to make sure that some of the roads are made single lanes to ease the traffic congestion, especially when you go to areas around the Airport, Ridge, and other places. It is becoming increasingly difficult. So, we have had engagement with urban roads first to look at what they can do. The Ghana Police Service has also asked us for a map of the hotspots in Accra and the times. I believe that it will be rolled out very soon.”
The Deputy Director of National Security, Boakye Ansah, however, urged participants to join the “See Something, Say Something” campaign to ensure that all events are held without any security threats.
“We are promoting the essence of ‘See Something, Say Something’ to ensure that all events that are marked to be organized this Christmas will be fully secured and safe without any threat. If you know something and you understand, you don’t need to fear. You only fear because you don’t know what to do. When you have security in your programs, people participate because they know they are safe. Security is a straightforward thing, and we should not compromise it.”
Assuring Ghanaians about security during the festive season, Boakye Ansah also added that all measures have been put in place to beef up security and that the safety of Ghanaians is assured.
