Kidnappings: Australia warns citizens against the use of Ubers, taxis and public transport in Ghana

General News on Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-06-11

The Australian government has warned its citizens residing in Ghana to stop using Ubers, taxis or any other public transportation service.

Australia is the third country after Canada and the United Kingdom (United Kingdom) to have issued such a warning as a result of the increase in the number of kidnappings in the country.

The travel advice indicated that Australians traveling to or residing in Ghana "take normal security measures, use common sense and look for suspicious behavior, as you would in Australia."

"Thieves target travelers, especially single women, who are victims of badault, bag theft, small theft and pickpocketing. These crimes are increasing in Accra and its surroundings. Periodic shortages of electricity and power outages (including traffic and traffic lights) coincide with an increase in crime in the evening and at night. Violent crimes, including abductions, targeting Westerners (especially women) have recently increased in Ghana. Do not use Ubers, taxis, or other public transport. Be especially vigilant at night, "read some parts of the update.

But at the West Africa Mining Safety Conference, held in Accra on Tuesday, Andrew Barnes, Australian High Commissioner in Ghana, did not raise the level of security but merely advised Australians to ensure their personal safety.

"This morning we updated our travel advisory to Ghana, but we have not raised the level. We put a little emphasis on Australians traveling or living in Ghana so they are more aware of their personal safety and we mentioned that they should be careful not to use public transport, taxis and Ubers and that sort of thing. So just remind everyone to be careful and make sure decisions. "

Government reacts to recent kidnapping of poor – Center for Defense and Security

The Center for Defense and Security has criticized the police department and the government for what it calls mismanagement of recent kidnappings in the country.

The group said the government's response to recent "security breaches", including kidnappings and human trafficking in the country, had been unsatisfactory, while the police had been badly treated.

"The government's response to these recent security breaches has not been satisfactory. Police handling of kidnappings has also been poor. The failure of the police to resolve the kidnapping of the three Takoradi daughters emboldened subsequent kidnappings of the Indian national and the Estonian diplomat. The failure of the police to arrest these abductors only reinforces the recent abduction of the two Canadian nationals. "