Making Disaster Management a Core Subject in Ghana’s Schools: A Call to Action

In recent weeks, our nation has been shaken by tragedies that should compel us to rethink how we prepare our citizens—right from childhood—to deal with disasters. The recent helicopter crash, which sadly cost lives, has highlighted our weaknesses in response, empathy, and public safety awareness. Equally heartbreaking was the car accident that claimed the lives of 16 children just a week or two ago.

In both cases, instead of rushing to assist victims, many bystanders reached for their phones, taking videos and circulating them on social media. This is a symptom of a deeper problem: we have not made disaster management a core part of our education.

When disasters occur—whether road accidents, building collapses, floods, fires, or aviation tragedies—every second matters. The actions taken in the first few minutes often determine how many lives can be saved. Unfortunately, in Ghana, the average citizen has little to no formal training on what to do in such situations. The result is panic, misinformation, and often preventable deaths.

It is time to change this. Disaster Management should be taught in schools across the country, starting from primary school to the highest levels of education. This is not merely about fire drills or occasional safety talks—it should be a structured curriculum covering:

Basic First Aid Skills – So that even a child can help stop bleeding, move an injured person safely, or call for help the right way.
Emergency Communication – Teaching the public when and how to call emergency lines, and what vital information to give.
Safety Protocols for Different Disasters – From road accidents to floods, earthquakes, and fires.
Ethics in Disaster Situations – Encouraging rescue over recording, and compassion over curiosity.
Community Preparedness – Understanding the importance of working together during emergencies.

Countries like Japan, Singapore, and the United States have integrated disaster education into their school systems. In Japan, children as young as six know exactly what to do in an earthquake, a tsunami, or a fire drill. This culture of preparedness has saved thousands of lives over the decades. Ghana must adopt this mindset—not as an option, but as a national priority.

Disaster management is not the responsibility of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) alone. It is the responsibility of every citizen, and the best way to ensure that is to start from our classrooms. We must raise a generation that knows how to protect themselves, help others, and respond effectively to emergencies.

The helicopter crash, the tragic road accidents, and the countless fires and floods we see each year are stark reminders that disasters do not announce their arrival. The difference between life and death often lies in the actions of the people on the scene before official help arrives. If we want to save more lives, reduce panic, and build a more resilient society, disaster management education must be woven into the fabric of our learning system.

It is time for policymakers, the Ministry of Education, NADMO, and civil society to come together to design and implement a nationwide disaster education program. Ghana can no longer afford to treat disaster response as an afterthought. The next tragedy will come—but the question is, will we be ready?

By: Ing. Peter Debrah, PhD

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