By: Melody Morris‑Mensah, a student of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

Across Ghana, festivals are growing larger each year. Streets fill with revellers, the drums grow louder, and thousands gather to dance, celebrate and honour tradition. But with larger crowds comes greater responsibility: in a single unexpected moment, joy can become fear.

At the Mozamma Festival in Gomoa Tarkwa last weekend, that risk nearly became real. During the climax of the durbar, the Queen Mother’s palanquin tilted and she fell into the arms of her attendants. For a brief instant the crowd fell silent; then people surged forward. Panic spread fast.

The response that followed illustrates why careful security planning matters. Traditional guards, police officers and health officials were on standby. They moved in immediately, formed a protective ring around the Queen Mother, cleared space and calmed the crowd.

Within minutes she stood, waved and smiled; she suffered only minor bruising. The drums resumed and the celebration continued.

The relief was immediate, but the incident was a wake‑up call. Had there been no security personnel on site or no crowd‑management plan, that moment could have resulted in a deadly stampede.

Festival organisers and security agencies must therefore collaborate well in advance. Procession routes should be mapped and risk‑assessed months before events. Barriers are needed to separate spectators from processions so that members of the public cannot rush into the path of moving groups or dignitaries.

Organisers also need more trained crowd marshals. Their role should extend beyond directing traffic: marshals must observe crowd flow, identify choke points, and take decisive action the moment a problem emerges.

Emergency access routes must be kept clear at all times so ambulances and medical teams can reach injured people without delay.

Public education is equally essential. Safety messages should be delivered before and during festivals so attendees understand not to rush, not to spread rumours, and to follow instructions from security personnel when incidents occur.

Our festivals are the heart of our culture. They foster pride, unity and joy. Protecting those traditions requires protecting the people who come to celebrate them. The Mozamma incident ended well because those present were prepared. We cannot leave it to chance next time.

Measures must be implemented now to prevent crowd insecurity and to ensure safety at festivals. Every life in that crowd matters.