It was the kind of helpless moment no one ever wants to experience. A female journalist from the Multimedia Group found herself trapped in her flooded room in the Western Region as torrential rains pounded the area.
The water level was rising rapidly. She was in distress and did the most logical thing—she called NADMO, Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation. What happened next was both shocking and heart-breaking.
The NADMO official on the other end of the line asked her to send a video of her flooded room and then calmly advised her to “wait for the water to recede.” No emergency team was dispatched. No attempt was made to reassure her or even stay on the line. She was told to sit tight and hope nature would show mercy.
It was only after the rains had subsided that a NADMO officer showed up—far too late to make any meaningful impact. For anyone familiar with emergency response systems elsewhere in the world, this scenario would be unimaginable. But in Ghana, it is all too common.
This is not an indictment of NADMO or the Fire Service per se. Rather, it is a wake-up call. These vital emergency services are only as good as the training, tools, and support they receive. If we continue to under-resource them, then we must share in the blame when disaster strikes and they fail to respond as they should.
Why NADMO Matters
Established in 1996 to manage disasters and coordinate responses to emergencies, NADMO is supposed to be Ghana’s front line in times of crisis. From floods to fires, collapsed buildings to pandemics, NADMO’s work is critical. But far too often, they are caught flat-footed—not for lack of dedication, but for lack of proper equipment, training, funding, and logistical support.
In emergencies, timing is everything. A swift response can save lives, reduce suffering, and prevent damage. When victims are left to their own devices—as in the journalist’s case—it undermines public trust in the very institutions meant to protect them.
NADMO officials have often expressed frustration with the lack of modern tools, emergency vehicles, communication infrastructure, and protective gear. Many rely on basic phones, improvised boats, and manual effort to respond to disasters in challenging terrain. In an era of drones, GPS mapping, and mobile rescue apps, this is simply unacceptable.
The Fire Service—Fighting Flames without Fuel
The Ghana National Fire Service faces similar constraints. Every time there’s a major fire—whether in a marketplace, a home, or an office tower—members of the public are quick to criticise the Fire Service for arriving late or failing to bring the blaze under control. But behind these failings are layers of structural challenges.
First, spatial planning in many parts of our cities is chaotic. Access roads are narrow or non-existent. Fire hydrants are few and far between—or they don’t work at all. In some cases, fire trucks can’t even get close enough to the building on fire. In one bizarre instance recently, a structure had been constructed over the hydrant. How can a firefighter be expected to work miracles in such conditions?
Then there’s the issue of equipment. Ghana’s Fire Service lacks modern fire-fighting tools, especially for high-rise buildings. When buildings exceed the reach of their outdated ladders and hoses, the result is predictable—loss of property, and sometimes, tragic loss of life. This is a glaring gap in our urban emergency preparedness.
Training and Morale: The Human Factor
Beyond equipment, training and retraining are vital. Emergency response is not just about what you do, but how you do it. It involves coordination, compassion, communication, and competence. Telling a distressed woman to “wait for the water to recede” speaks volumes about the absence of basic emergency communication protocols.
NADMO and the Fire Service need regular, simulation-based training sessions. They must be exposed to real-time crisis scenarios to hone their instincts and develop confidence. Morale is also crucial. No first responder can operate at their best if they feel undervalued or unsupported.
Indeed, both NADMO and the Fire Service are often working under enormous psychological pressure, sometimes risking their lives for a public that rarely acknowledges their sacrifices. If we want them to deliver world-class services, then we must treat them like world-class professionals.
What Must Be Done—Urgently
The solution is not beyond us. Here are five immediate interventions that can help reposition NADMO and the Fire Service to serve the public better:
- Increased Budgetary Support: Emergency services must be prioritized in the national budget. Funds must be ring-fenced for equipment upgrades, vehicles, communication systems, and protective gear.
- Capacity Building and Training: Regular training and retraining, both local and international, must be institutionalized. Partnerships with global emergency services can enhance skills transfer.
- Modern Equipment Acquisition: Ghana must invest in specialized rescue boats, helicopters, fire-fighting drones, and ladder trucks capable of reaching high-rise buildings.
- Community Education and Integration: Public education on emergency response and prevention must be stepped up. NADMO and Fire Service personnel should engage communities regularly.
- Decentralized Emergency Response Units: Local governments must be empowered and resourced to create zonal NADMO and Fire Service units that can respond faster, especially in remote areas.
A Call to Leadership
President Akufo-Addo once declared that “we are not building Ghana for today, but for tomorrow.” That future must include a well-equipped and well-trained emergency response system. Parliament, the Ministry of Interior, local authorities, and corporate Ghana must all come to the table.
Let us not wait for another disaster to jolt us into action. Let us not be the nation that prays after the fact, when we could have planned before the storm. Let us invest in NADMO and the Fire Service now—not just for their sake, but for ours.
When the next floodwaters rise or flames engulf another building, let us be the nation in which help actually comes—quickly, competently, and with compassion.
