Vladimir Antwi-Danso, an International Relations and Security Expert, has urged owners of event centres to prioritise security during public events to protect patrons from crime and emergencies.
He said event organisers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of guests, including personal security, protection of property and emergency preparedness.
“The onus lies on them to provide security, and security in the broad sense of the word — people’s personal security, property security and the essence of the event itself,” he said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday.
Dr Antwi-Danso explained that many people wrongly blame the police for inadequate security at private events, although organisers are expected to notify law enforcement agencies and request security support.
“The police do not know that there is going to be a programme somewhere unless organisers inform them to come and ensure safety,” he explained.
He noted that event centres and entertainment venues could easily become hotspots for criminal activities, violence, fires or other emergencies if proper security arrangements are not put in place.
According to him, organisers must ensure adequate police presence, deploy trained security personnel and establish clear emergency response systems capable of responding swiftly to incidents.
“Anything can happen at such events. A fire can break out. People can come and fight. Miscreants can appear there. It is the organisers who have the responsibility to ensure that these things do not happen. If they happen, the mitigation should be quick and swift,” he said.
Dr Antwi-Danso also encouraged event organisers to educate patrons on safety measures and create environments where suspicious behaviour can easily be reported.
He further urged the public not to rely entirely on security agencies but to remain personally alert and security-conscious during outings.
His comments follow the arrest of Joshua Kojo Anane Boateng, a 36-year-old entrepreneur accused of drugging women, sexually abusing them and sharing intimate images online without consent.
Police investigations indicate that the suspect frequented nightclubs where he allegedly seduced and drugged victims before recording and distributing explicit content through a Telegram platform known as “VIP Sleep Fetish 2025.”
The Ghana Police Service said electronic devices, including mobile phones, a laptop, memory devices and suspected drug substances, were retrieved during the suspect’s arrest.
Under Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is a criminal offence.
The law also provides penalties for online sexual exploitation, cyberstalking and related offences aimed at protecting victims from abuse on digital platforms.
