A member of the Movement for Change, Philip Longdon, has called for an aggressive education and standardisation of emergency numbers among citizens to help facilitate rescue efforts in the event of disasters and accidents.
Speaking about poor management of accident victims and contamination of crime scenes on TV3s New Day on August 11, 2025, he called for a unified or common emergency line for citizens to aid service institutions (Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, NADMO) easily locate accident scenes and adequately prepare to help save lives.
The numbers kept changing over the years and hence its difficult to keep track. However, I understand the number 112 for ambulance services works but can we have a common code for all situations to help make timely calls in times of distress?
I also think these emergency numbers should be drummed into our ears from basic levels at the educational institutions, up to the universities and it must be accessible to help us mitigate the disasters that are claiming precious lives of citizens, he said.
He added that transport operators and traders in the markets should all be romped in to learn the emergency numbers so that they are not left helpless when disasters strike.
Commenting on the unfortunate helicopter crash, he indicated that the situation, though painful, has opened the country up to learn about a lot of lapses in its disaster response systems.
He called on all citizens to not only brood over the massive loss of the eight comrades who fell in the line of duty, but to learn some lessons from the disaster and resolve to help in any way possible to end illegal mining, which is not only damaging the country’s vegetation, but its water bodies too.
His reaction follows the tragic helicopter accident on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, which claimed the lives of the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, was among others.
Also on board were Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; a former Ashanti Regional Minister Samuel Sarpong; Muniru Limuna (Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator); and Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate.
The crew members were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
MRA/AE
Meanwhile, watch the trailer for GhanaWebs upcoming documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below: