The management of a major shopping mall in Accra has officially confirmed its cooperation with the Ghana Police Service following the circulation of a viral video involving its security team. According to a report by Starr FM, the footage depicts security personnel engaging in the physical assault of a male customer who was suspected of attempting to steal items from the facility.
A statement from the mall management as cited by Citi Newsroom notes that the organization does not condone violence and has initiated an internal inquiry into the incident. The management team stated that the private security firm contracted to provide services at the premises is currently under review to determine if standard operating procedures were breached during the apprehension of the suspect.
Daily Guide Network reports that the Ghana Police Service has taken note of the video and is working to identify all individuals captured in the recording. Law enforcement officials indicated that while shoplifting is a criminal offense, the use of excessive force by private citizens or security guards constitutes a violation of the law. The police have not yet released the names of the guards or the suspect involved in the confrontation.
According to an account by GhanaWeb, the victim was allegedly subjected to slaps and kicks while being detained in a holding area at the mall. These details remain unconfirmed by an official police charge sheet at this time. The authorities have urged the public to refrain from mob justice and to hand over criminal suspects to the nearest police station for legal processing.
The mall management emphasized in a press release reported by Joy News that they are committed to ensuring a safe environment for all shoppers. They further clarified that the actions seen in the video do not reflect the values or training protocols of the shopping center. Further updates are expected once the police conclude their preliminary findings and determine if formal charges of assault will be filed against the security personnel.