The acting Co-ordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims’ Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mrs Habiba Twumasi-Sarpong, who gave the advice, observed that because of  youthful exuberance, some young women uploaded their nude videos and pictures on their phones which were later leaked or uploaded by themselves on social media.

 

“ You might get a great opportunity in future and this same video and picture might be used by someone against you. So you have to be careful of the kind of text messages, videos, pictures and audios you post on social media,” she advised.

 

Personal security

 

ACP Twumasi-Sarpong, who is also the Director of Community Policing, gave the advice at a sensitisation programme organised by the University of Ghana Students Representative Council (SRC), in collaboration with the Community Policing Department and the DOVVSU. 

 

The programme, which formed part of the women’s week celebration of the university, was to educate the students on personal security.

 

ACP Twumasi-Sarpong advised the students to be careful of drinks that they took during events or outing with friends, because some of them used  the opportunity to “drug” the women in order to rape them.

 

On crime prevention, she stated that although there were security officers on campus, students could do a lot to protect themselves with the right information.

 

She further advised the students to be vigilant and alert, and be security conscious to enable them to detect crime in their environment.

 

Avoid obscure locations

 

While explaining that crime occurred when the motivated offender found an attractive target at a convenient location, she urged them to move in groups using open spaces, and avoid obscured locations such as bushy alleys.

 

She said the sensitisation also formed part of the initiative by the Ghana Police Service to educate tertiary students on personal security.

 

So far, students of the Lancaster University, Central University College and the University of Ghana Medical School have undergone such training. 

 

“It is our expectation that students will partner, collaborate and assist the Ghana Police Service with information that will help prevent and detect crime to ensure a crime-free environment for business development,” ACP Twumasi-Sarpong stated.