The National Ambulance Service in the Upper East Region is encouraging the acquisition of first aid skills by members of the public to help save lives and reduce the severity of injuries caused by road crashes.
The Upper East Regional Director of the National Ambulance Service, Azudaa R. Atandigre, said while witnesses of road crashes are encouraged to call for emergency medical service, they could play a critical role in stabilizing victims and preventing further crashes during the waiting period.
He observed that many Ghanaians, who witness road crashes, are often desirous to lend a helping hand to the victims but, in most cases, lack such emergency response skills.
He said while this desire is commendable, responding to accidents without first aid skills could endanger the lives of victims. He, therefore, urged the public to acquire emergency response skills, adding that his outfit is ready to provide such skill training to members of the public.
“We want to see a region where the first person at a crash scene knows how to provide basic support without causing further injury to the victim,” he stated.
“Most of the time, an accident occurs, and the Ghanaian in us will not allow us to stand and only watch. We will always want to help. But in the process of helping, we end up worsening the situations. It’s not something you can go and punish the person for. The person is lacking a skill. And that skill, you don’t need a huge amount of money, or you don’t need any precious time to achieve it. We are available and can provide that particular skill so that you can be able to help.”
The National Ambulance Service Regional Director said this at a stakeholder engagement on road safety held last week in Bolgatanga.
He also urged motorists to adopt defensive driving as part of efforts to reduce road crashes and fatalities in the region.
Mr. Azudaa Atandigre disclosed that the service responded to as many as 42 road traffic crashes in the first two months of 2026 and said defensive driving practices can play a crucial role in reducing such crashes, the severity of injuries, and preventing fatalities in case of a crash.
Mr. Atandigre made the call Wednesday at a stakeholder engagement on road safety in Bolgatanga.
Presenting statistics on road traffic crashes for 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NSRA) said the region recorded a decline in road crashes as well as casualties in the period.
In all, 96 crashes were reported with 64 deaths and 131 injuries as compared to 127 reported cases with 68 deaths and 185 injuries in 2024, the authority disclosed.
It added that pedestrian knockdowns have also declined from 17 in 2024 to 11 in 2025.
The NRSA said it is aiming to rid the region of such carnage and urging motorists to strictly observe traffic regulations to safeguard lives on the roads.
