Despite the security alert by the United Kingdom government of a possible terrorist attack in Ghana, shoppers continue to patronise shopping malls, while business is very brisk at the markets and commercial centres.
Apparently, they are not disturbed by the threat although they are cautious of the places they shop.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to some shopping centres in Accra, saw scores of people at the Accra Mall, the Koala Shopping Mall and the Max Mart Shopping Mall purchasing various goods and services.
Most of them appeared to be more interested in what they were purchasing than the environment they found themselves in.
While others were seen taking pictures with friends and loved ones in the malls, some were busy trying on one product or the other, and others were engaged in window shopping.
Brisk business
At the Accra Mall, customers were seen busily shopping as shop attendants called on them to try some products. Families had also gathered in their numbers to share their moments as they ate together against the background of good music.
An Australian foreigner, who gave her name as Mrs Judith Brown, told the Daily Graphic that even though the situation in Kenya had brought about mixed feelings in the visit of the shopping centre, she expressed the hope that Ghana was going to remain peaceful.
“Ghana is known to be the beacon of peace and if they have been able to go through a successful election petition, there is no cause to worry. Ghana is for peace,” he said.
The situation at the Max Mart Shopping Mall, near the 37 Military Hospital, was no different. Children who came to shop with their parents were seen playing at the mall.
The General Manager of Max Mart, Mr Omar Naboulsi, told the Daily Graphic that customer patronage was going on smoothly, saying, “We have not fallen short of customers since the incident.”
However, some shoppers at the Koala Shopping Mall in Osu, in separate interviews, said even though the country was peaceful, security personnel should also be on the alert and take lessons from the Kenyan situation by providing security at public places at all times.
Following the attack on Westgate Mall in Kenya which claimed about 67 lives, including Ghana’s former Chairman of Council of State, Professor Kofi Awoonor, the UK government has issued a red alert, warning of an impending terrorist attack on Ghana due to the country’s involvement in peace-keeping operations abroad.
According to the UK government, “there is an underlying threat from terrorism targeted at her citizens travelling to Ghana”.
It further stated that the "attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers”.
Source: Daily Graphic
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