True vigilance means understanding our surroundings, recognising unusual changes and acting early—without living in fear or treating everyone as a suspect.
A passenger boards a crowded trotro after work, finds a seat and becomes absorbed in a mobile phone. Nothing appears threatening.
Yet, a phone may be snatched through an open window, a bag opened unnoticed or the vehicle driven recklessly while everyone remains silent.
In an interview published in the August 15, 2026 edition of The Mirror, I advised passengers to remain vigilant and protect their valuables.
The advice followed unverified social media reports about passengers allegedly being robbed after losing consciousness.
Although the claims remain unconfirmed, they raise an important question: What does it really mean to be vigilant?
Vigilance is not fear
Vigilance goes beyond watching a phone, handbag or wallet. It means recognising changing conditions, considering what they may mean and responding sensibly.
It does not mean treating every stranger as a criminal. Fear can cloud judgement; vigilance is calm and purposeful. It involves asking:
• What is happening around me?
• What would normally be expected here?
• Has anything changed?
• Is there a safer action I should take?
Criminals often rely on distraction and predictable routines. A passenger texting, messaging or engrossed in a phone conversation may fail to notice someone moving unusually close.
Similarly, a trader who follows the same cash-deposit routine may unknowingly create a predictable pattern that could expose them to risk.
Begin with what is normal
Recognising risk begins with understanding what is normal. In a trotro, passengers may move around to make room. However, someone repeatedly changing seats while casting glances at another passenger's bag may warrant closer attention.
At an ATM, standing unnecessarily close to someone and watching as they enter their personal identification number (PIN) is not normal behaviour.
Such conduct does not prove criminal intent, but it is a reason to pay attention, create distance, seek assistance or report a concern.
Passengers should keep their bags closed and within sight, avoid displaying cash unnecessarily and remain aware of their surroundings when using earphones. Vigilance also means noticing dangerous driving and speaking up when necessary.
At markets and mobile money points, customers should guard against distractions and unsolicited assistance. Workplaces should question unfamiliar visitors and protect restricted areas.
Residents may also notice broken streetlights, abandoned vehicles or unfamiliar persons repeatedly observing a house.
Responsible reporting of such observations can support prevention. However, these observations must never become a justification for harassment, mob action or unverified accusations.
Awareness must lead to safe action
Vigilance is meaningful only when awareness leads to safe and appropriate action.
A person may secure a valuable, change position, alert a driver or security officer, leave the area without confrontation or contact the police.
No property is worth risking a life. Vigilance cannot guarantee protection, but it can reduce exposure to risk and support earlier intervention without blaming victims.
Everyday lens innovation: Four-second safety pause
MISORNU proposes a simple habit when entering a new environment or noticing a change:
Pause: Briefly stop what you are doing.
Look: Observe the people, exits, movement and conditions around you.
Assess: Ask what appears normal, what has changed and whether a risk may be developing.
Act: Secure an item, move away, alert someone, leave or report the concern.
This simple pause can be used in a trotro, at an ATM, when parking a vehicle or when returning home at night.
Duty-bearer innovation: Police social media operations centres
Citizens may notice warning signs, but prevention remains weak when reporting is difficult.
Travel time, long waits and uncertainty about where information should be directed may discourage some people from visiting police stations. As a result, valuable early warnings may go unreported.
The Ghana Police Service should consider establishing dedicated Social Media Operations Centres, supported by verified regional, divisional, district and national WhatsApp or other digital reporting channels.
Citizens could submit non-emergency alerts about suspicious activity, recurring hazards or emerging concerns through messages, photographs, videos, voice notes and location information.
This would be different from reporting an emergency or crime in progress through 191 or 18555.
A robbery in progress or an immediate threat to life would still require an emergency call. Digital channels would instead support preventive reporting and intelligence development.
Trained officers could assess alerts, protect informants and analyse emerging patterns to inform patrols, investigations, information gathering and monitoring.
Such a system would require strong safeguards, including verification, confidentiality, data protection, proper record-keeping and feedback mechanisms.
Public education would also be necessary to discourage false reports or the naming of alleged offenders without evidence.
A digital alert would not replace a formal complaint, witness statement or investigation. Rather, it would provide an accessible first point of contact for police follow-up and crime-prevention efforts.
Shared responsibility
Effective prevention requires cooperation among citizens, transport operators, workplaces, local authorities and the Police. Each has a role to play in identifying risks, encouraging responsible reporting and making preventive action easier.
Vigilance should, therefore, not be understood as a burden placed solely on the individual. It must be supported by systems that allow citizens to report concerns safely and enable authorities to respond before risks escalate.
Prevention question for authorities
Can the Ghana Police Service pilot verified WhatsApp and other digital Social Media Operations Centres for non-emergency safety alerts while preserving 191 and 18555 for crimes in progress and immediate threats?
MISORNU prevention takeaway
Vigilance means noticing what matters, thinking before reacting and having a trusted channel through which early warnings can lead to preventive action.
This article is part of “Before It Happens: The MISORNU Preventive Security Series,” which turns current crime and safety developments into practical lessons for citizens, institutions and policymakers.
The writer is the Executive Director, MISORNU Safety Centre; former Director-General, Police Public Affairs
