By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, July 17, GNA – Parents should deliberately educate their children on personal safety and security to reduce their vulnerability to criminals, Mr Adib Saani, Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, has advised.
He said children should be equipped with basic security knowledge to help them recognise and avoid potential dangers.
Mr Saani, who is also a Security Analyst, gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency following the conviction of a 25-year-old man by the Adenta Circuit Court for child stealing.
He said safeguarding children should not be left entirely to adults because children were often the first targets of criminals.
“We tend to underestimate the intelligence of children, but research has shown that when children are taught basic security hygiene, they become more security conscious,” he said.
Mr Saani’s comments follow the sentencing of David Kpandoyo, a mason, to five years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to child stealing.
The Adenta Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs Angela Attachie, convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.
Mr Saani said kidnappers, paedophiles and other criminals often lured children with sweets, biscuits, balloons and other gifts, making it important for children to understand that they should never follow or accept gifts from strangers.
He said many African children were exposed to security threats while travelling to and from school and therefore required greater awareness and vigilance.
Mr Saani advised parents to teach children not to open doors to strangers without the permission of a responsible adult.
He cautioned that frequent visitors to the home, including masons, carpenters, electricians and other artisans, should not automatically be regarded as trusted family friends.
“The fact that someone frequently visits your home does not make the person family. Children may become comfortable around such individuals because they see them regularly, but parents must establish clear boundaries,” he said.
Mr Saani warned against allowing visitors unrestricted access to homes, saying criminals could exploit legitimate work opportunities to study the layout of properties before committing offences.
“If someone comes to repair something, let the person go directly to where the work is to be done and leave afterwards. Unrestricted movement around the house allows people to map your home and identify valuables or vulnerabilities,” he said.
Mr Saani encouraged households to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems to improve security, noting that many were affordable and enabled parents to monitor children remotely through two-way video and audio communication.
“Parents can see what is happening at home, communicate with their children and monitor caregivers or domestic workers when they are away,” he said.
Drawing on his experience in the security systems industry, Mr Saani said many people only sought to install CCTV cameras after becoming victims of crime.
“About 90 per cent of my clients come looking for cameras after something unfortunate has already happened. Security should be preventive, not reactive,” he said.
Mr Saani said technology could not replace security education and urged parents to remain vigilant even when dealing with people they knew.
He also advised people, particularly women and others living alone, not to disclose that they were the sole occupants of their homes.
“People living alone are generally more vulnerable. Avoid giving strangers the impression that you are alone in the house. For the ladies, you can intentionally make a call as though you’re informing your boyfriend or husband about the presence of the stranger,” he advised.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Eric Appah Marfo