The Ghana Police Service has assured organisers of the 2019 Year of
Return (YOR) and the public of adequate security and protection as the nation
opens its gates for more visitors, including some 250 high-profile celebrities,
who are coming to Ghana for the Yuletide.
The Police Director of Operations, ACP Dr. Sayibu Pabi Gariba, who
gave the assurance, said measures had already been put in place to ensure the
safety of visitors and citizens alike at the borders, airports and seaports of
the country.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Ghana Tourism Authority
headquarters in Accra, the police chief indicated that event organisers have
nothing to fear about the safety and security of their patrons.
The organisers of this year’s event had raised concerns about the
security for the programme in which more than 20,000 people are expected to
attend.
According to them, the Christmas celebration, coupled with the Year
of Return programme, would eventually increase the number of visitors into the country and, therefore, anticipated busy streets, especially
in Accra, during the holidays.
They believe this situation could compromise the safety and security
of revelers, who have been invited for the programme.
But the Police Director of Operation said the country had done
enough to ensure that venues, streets and other crowded areas are secure to
ward off any eventuality.
The Head of Protection at the National Security, Nadal Majdoub, also
said more plain-clothes national security operatives would be deployed as part
of the security arrangements at various centres to deal with security concerns.
“It is important that we have the arrival schedules of any VIP for
us to know how to handle these arrivals,” he indicated and added that security
begins at the airport.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana
Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman; Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office
of the President and Chairman of Year of Return, Akwasi Ababio, and the Mayor
of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah.
Afrochella, Afro Nation, Polo Beach Club and Little Havana were
among some of the event organisers who were in attendance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, as part of
the 2019 Year of Return programme, has extended the Visa on Arrival process to
all travellers to encourage high patronage of the programme.
The organisers have also slashed the fee down from $150.00 to $75.00.
By Ernest Kofi Adu
