UEW Hall Assistants Cautioned to be Viligant of Various Threats that Could Emerge – Director of Security

The Division of Human Resource (UEW) in collaboration with the Security Directorate (UEW), organised a two-day workshop for the various Hall Assistants of the University from 21^st - 22^nd February 2017. The programme was titled “The role of Hall Assistants in ensuring effective security and safety at the hall of residence”.

The aim of the workshop was to discuss the various threats and dangers students were exposed to in their various halls, as well as the duties of Hall Assistants and some recommendations for the future of the university.

The Ag. Director of Security Services, Mr. Samuel Kwadjo Okai, in his presentation identified the various traditional threats that are often reported to the Directorate such as fraud, assault, rape, robbery, occultism and fire outbreaks. These sophisticated threats he said “requires us to be very vigilant and cautious. He further reiterated that the work of Hall Assistants is a combination of both front desk management and security and therefore Hall Assistants must be very alert and always prepared.

Mr. Okai discussed some emerging threats such as cybercrime, blackmailing, suicide, kidnapping, rape, homosexuality and fire outbreaks. He indicated that although some of these threats may not always very dominant on our campuses any signs or signals of such a threat must not be ignored.

He recommended the following in ensuring safety for everyone;

• provision of computers and telephones for Hall Assistants to make the work more effective.
• Using swipe cards to access office buildings
• installation of CCTV cameras and ACCESS CONTROL systems on the entire campus.
• Appointment of Hall Security Guards to beef up security at the Halls.
• Provision of specific uniforms for Hall Assistants with their ID cards.

The Ag. Director of Security Services encouraged the participants to be security conscious and endeavour to a keep photo album of all the residents in the halls with their faces and room numbers, visitors’ book (a book that records the visitors that come to visit a student), key management book and occurrence book, which could serve as a form of evidence.  He also stressed on the need for students involvement in ensuring their own safety and security.

Mrs. Deborah Afful, Deputy Registrar, Division of Human Resource, thanked the Hall Assistants for their dedication and encouraged them to begin the change process, since change starts with an individual and they must first change for the betterment of the future.