The four-day deadly attack in September 2013 by terrorists at a mall in Nairobi, Kenya, struck a nerve among global mall patrons. It left many people wondering about mall safety all over the world including Ghana.
Since the last African Mall attack, Ghana can count a rise in the number of malls in Accra and some other regional capitals in Ghana, but are these malls safe and secured?
Security and Safety Layout for these Malls
Most of these malls have a considerable Security and Safety layout which includes Manned Guards and some level of electronic security and safety systems put in place. The question that has always been asked is, “what would constitute good security and safety for shopping malls?”
It’s a known fact that the average Ghanaian doesn’t really care about security and safety for even their homes and most often their places of work and therefore public place safety is secondary and no questions are asked concerning security and safety.
For the owners of these shopping malls it’s important to ensure that security guards manning these facilities are well trained and from credible security companies, mall owners must have their own way of checking if these guards sent to Mann their facilities do not have any previous history of crime and this must be done independently of the company providing them the service. Mall owners should have a policy in place where every guard sent to their facility is cleared by the Police.
Regular maintenance of security and safety systems installed by these malls is key for public safety.
Regular testing of these systems installed to ensure there are working is another key indicator for public safety within and around the malls.
Security experts in areas of Anti-Terrorism, defense, intelligence, security and safety systems layout should be brought in to train staff in identifying suspicious people and objects in washrooms etc. Manned Surveillance systems within these malls is a must and security control room staff must be sufficiently trained in times like these to see and report for possible swift action.
TIPS FOR VISITORS TO THESE MALLS
- Be aware and trust your instincts. It’s easy to be caught up in the shopping dream, to –do lists and shopping lists, etc. Remember to be aware of your surroundings while you are out and shopping. If something seems off, or unsafe, trust your gut and ask for help when needed.
- Park in well-lit areas that are close to your destination. If you are shopping alone do not hesitate to ask a security guard to escort you to your vehicle, especially at night. Always carry your keys in your hand while walking to your car, you could use these as a weapon if necessary and this will also help to ensure you get into your car that much quicker. Also, if you have a “Panic” button on your keys be sure not to put your keys away too quickly. Your car keys must always be accessible by you before you get to your car
- Do not leave valuables in plain view in your car such as gifts, cell phones, purses, clothing, etc. Put these items in the trunk or cover them up. Be prepared before you get to the mall either from home or office, valuables must be locked in the car boot, trunk before you get to the mall to avoid onlookers seeing you locking valuables and if not sure request a security guard to keep an eye on your car, but make sure you check ID of guard on duty before requesting for assistance
- When leaving your vehicle: Look under, in, and around your car as you are approaching it.
- When returning to your car, get in, lock the doors, buckle up, and leave. Parking lots are not a good place to unwind, relax, or make phone calls.
- Do not allow cell phone conversations, text messaging, or even headphones and music be a distraction to you while you are walking to your car.
- Try not to carry a purse or pocketbook, and keep your cash in your front pocket (not in a back pocket.) If you must carry a purse, try to choose one that is a cross body type of messenger bag. This will make it much more difficult for purse-snatchers.
- Keep your cell phone on you, in a pocket, or in your hand – this way in the incident of a purse snatching you will still have a phone to make calls.
- It’s always more fun to have a friend join you, and safer too.
- Child Safety: Always keep small children securely in a stroller and do not let them wander. Make sure all children are aware of where you will meet in the event of them getting separated from you. Children should know their full name, address and phone number as early as possible. If the child is too young to remember, place your cell phone number in their pocket. Always accompany children to the restroom. Keep an eye on children around escalators. Check their clothing for untied shoe laces, hanging scarves. Escalators have an emergency stop button at the top and bottom; press this button immediately if something gets stuck.
- Always know where the nearest exits are, in the case of an emergency.
Food Safety-Check: Manufacture & Expiry Dates
Consumers must always check dates in which food products were produced, expiring, country of origin, address of manufacturer, etc. before purchasing. There are a lot unwholesome food products on the market and you should not be surprise to see some of these big malls also engaging in such acts and most importantly make sure its approved by the food and drugs authority of Ghana, if not it should be reported to the relevant authorities without any delay.
By Adam Bonaa (www.securityhousegh.com)
