Managers of Marina Mall, Marina Market Group, has beefed-up security at the various shops in the mall in an attempt to safeguard the security of shoppers and patrons following the recent terrorist attack on Westgate Mall in Kenya, which left over 60 people dead and scores injured.

The knock-on effect of the Kenya attack has negatively affected traffic to one of the country’s prestigious five-star rated malls, with the British government’s warning that Ghana could be the target of extremists.

The Centre Manager of Marina Mall, Florence Menson, said managers of the Mall have already engaged the Ghana Police Service and other private security firms to tighten security at the premises in a bid to assure the safety of patrons, and also to make the shopping experience a lot safer.

“Reports of insecurity in the malls have affected our business for the past one week. Media reports of the Kenyan attack are damaging mall activities in the country.

“The numbers have not gone down completely because people are still shopping. But because the media has been reporting on the problem in Kenya, it gives people a little trepidation about what could happen.

“So to assure you, we are working with the security firms to up security. We have the police come in regularly to do some checks. We have also raised security awareness among staff. So we are very much aware that security is important to Ghanaians now, and we want to make sure that people coming to the mall feel secure.

“We have also had security meetings with top security chiefs in the country and we have put measures in place to safeguard our customers,” she said.

Marina Mall, which opened to business last year, is scheduled to be officially opened later this month.

So far, the mall is considered the only five-star shopping centre in the country and generates consumer traffic of about 3,000 to 4,000 people on weekdays and 4,000 to 8,000 on weekends.

The mall has a six-level tower of offices with an approximate area of 3,250m2 occupied by Nestle Central and West Africa, Technip Ghana/UK, and Hess Ghana Exploration. It also has a three-level shopping area covering a total space of 9,000m2.

The Marina Mall is certain of sustaining and improving on the consumer traffic due to the shops which have been selected to meet the majority of its clients’ needs. The Mall is also strategically positioned with close proximity to the international airport, Airport Residential Area, Cantonments, Golden Tulip Hotel, Holiday Inn, the upcoming Marriot Hotel and offices in the Airport City area.