Teen chat : Give children security tips on kidnapping

Kidnapping of innocent children is becoming rife in the country.  This wicked act is a source of worry for parents, school authorities and also the police.  

There are many reasons why kidnappers act the way they do. Some act under the influence of hard drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, etc. 

The high level of unemployment in the country and the need for survival is another factor that leads  people to indulge in these acts. Greed is also another reason we can not overlook. 

Kidnapping has numerous effects on the victims and their families. Sometimes, the victims are physically abused which makes it difficult for them to cope later in life.

Some families spend huge sums of money in order to rescue their captured relatives. The victims are traumatised and often need psychological help after their release.  

It would be very good if majority of the citizens would be provided jobs so that  they would not idle about and devise illegal and evil ways to survive.  

The Ghana Police Service should also provide adequate security and regular patrols in the various communities to scare  potential kidnappers.

There is the need for all communities  to establish neighbourhood groups so that they can monitor the movements of strange and suspicious people in their communities. Above all, schoolchildren need to be educated by their parents and teachers to be wary of strangers who try to  lure them into  their cars. 

Children should also learn not to accept gifts from strangers and  always be  alert  so that they will not fall prey to the dangerous developments in our society. 

The Ghana Police Service should offer security tips to schoolchildren regularly. This, I believe, would help make children aware of the problem so as to protect them from kidnapping which is gradually gaining grounds in the sub-region.