Schools, churches tighten security in the wake of kidnappings
A number of schools and churches in the Accra metropolis have beefed up security to protect children on their premises against intruders.
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This has become necessary in view of recent incidents of abduction in the Accra metropolis.
While schools are educating their pupils and students on security measures to ensure that they go to school and return home safely, some churches are also insisting that parents who bring their children for Sunday School service pick them up themselves.
These came to light when the Junior Graphic went round some schools and churches to assess the security situation there in the wake of the recent reported kidnappings.
Schools
In an interview with the Director of the Faith Montessori School, Gbawe, Mrs Emma Amoo-Gottfried said the school had a CCTV which monitored the area to ensure that no intruders entered the compound.
Mrs Amoo-Gottfried said they also recorded the number of children who reported to school on a daily basis and those who went home with the bus as well as those who were picked up by drivers or their parents.
“We have a huge responsibility to ensure that the kids entrusted in our care are taken good care of”, she added.
On her part, the Headmistress of Mantse Tackie 3 Primary, Ms Hannah Ofosuah, said as part of measures to ensure that the children especially the younger ones were safe, two assistants stayed on after school till 3:30p.m. to see to it that every child had left the school safely.
She, however, said after 3:30p.m., those children who were not picked up by their parents were taken home by their teachers and brought to school the next day.
Ms Ofosuah said during worship on Wednesdays, the pupils/students were educated on issues in the media, especially those related to children.
She, therefore, said they had been briefed on the kidnapping incident and educated on how to avoid such situations.
Churches
At the Makers House International Church at Kwabenya, parents who brought their kids for Sunday School were made to register them and were issued with cards.
According to Mrs Kafui Feli, the head of the children’s department, the parents were expected to present the card before they could pick their children up after the church service.
On his part, the Circuit Supervisor of the Abeka Methodist Church, Evangelist Nathaniel Okang, said both children and parents had been educated on how to protect themselves by security personnel who worshipped at the church.
He said a security man was always at the entrance to look out for strangers and added that children who came to church on their own were also advised against talking to strangers on their way home.
Police
The Greater Accra Regional Commander, DCOP Christian Yohunu, in an interview advised parents to educate their children about the dangers of accepting gifts from strangers.
He also urged parents not to leave their children in the care of taxi drivers but to accompany them to school or pick them up from school themselves.
DCOP Yohunu asked churches and mosques to provide adequate security not for the younger children alone but those between the ages of seven to 11 years because they were targets of kidnappers as well.
He gave the assurance that the Police would continue to create awareness of the growing menace so everyone would be security conscious.