Editorial
Add other regions to the training for “pre-hospital emergency care”
Pre-hospital emergency care is essential for enhancing the health of patients with both acute and chronic illnesses, as well as in the event of an emergency accident.
Therefore, enabling medical staff to respond quickly to patients in urgent situations can help save lives before they are sent to the hospital for additional care.
Pre-hospital care refers to situations where the sick, injured, or critically ill patient receives first aid before being transported to a medical facility.
Sometimes the situation is so serious that quick action is required to save the injured person’s life before even an ambulance arrives, since any delay will have an adverse effect on the patient.
It is heartwarming that a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Elijeko Foundation, has organised a training workshop on pre-hospital emergency care and cardiovascular diseases in the Ashanti Region in partnership with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to assist healthcare professionals in managing emergencies like cardiac arrest before the victim is taken to the hospital.
The Foundation’s founder, Mr. Andrews Nyantakyi, explained that the programme was set up to save lives that were frequently lost due to cardiac arrest because bystanders were unable to administer life-saving resuscitation in a timely manner.
“We hope to use this programme to create a platform to promote direct community engagement and equip Ghanaians with the knowledge of what, when and how to respond to emergencies,” he explained.
The Spectator applauds the NGO’s initiative and hopes that the training would be made available to the general public and other regions of Ghana, to better prepare people to manage emergency situations and save lives.
This is due to the fact that families are frequently so bewildered during emergencies that they are unable to control the situation in a way that would save a life or instantly consider which hospital to transport the ill person to.
The problem is made worse when there isn’t enough transportation to take a patient to the hospital right away.
People end up dying as a result of this, which could have been prevented if a home cure for first aid had been used.
In an emergency, whether at home or in a public setting, one must act immediately to stabilise a patient who is in critical condition.
The majority of the time, a life has already been lost by the time the patient is taken to the hospital since a medical professional may not have arrived in time to provide first aid.
The Spectator calls on the government to intervene by giving the necessary resources, particularly money, to support the work of the NAS and the NGO to extend the training to other healthcare organisations and even private citizens.
We also hope that the government will heed the plea of Dr Joseph Bonney, an Emergency Medicine Specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to “enact a law for every public facility to have a first aid box and automated external defibrillator.”
Let us work to lead healthy lifestyles by keeping an eye on our diets, getting regular exercise, being socially engaged, visiting a doctor for routine exams, taking our medications as prescribed, getting enough sleep, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking.
Additionally, you should get medical help right away if you see any symptoms of a chronic disease to prevent any emergencies.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will administer the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana from Monday, May 4, 2026, to Monday, May 11, 2026, for both school and private candidates.
For Junior High School (JHS) students, it is a crucial evaluation that covers both core and elective areas, such as English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, French, and Ghanaian Language among others.
A total of 619,985 candidates comprising 304,273 males and 315,712 females have been registered to write this final examination for JHS students.
In order to prevent examination misconduct, which damages the legitimacy of the educational system and skews the results of student assessments, candidates are expected to follow the regulations of the examination by WAEC.
Anyone found engaging in examination misconduct will face harsh penalties under WAEC Act 719.
As a result, the Spectator is advising all candidates to be cautious of the directives and make a commitment to always act morally.
We also implore supervisors and invigilators to refrain from any wrongdoing because invigilators have found themselves in trouble in the past.
It is common to feel anxious at examination but we advise candidates not to panic during this time because if they do, their brains will not be able to recall what they have learned.
Relax and you will be able to recall the majority of the material you have studied, but if for some reason you are unable to remember do not be afraid. Leaving a question unanswered is better than receiving a sanction from WAEC due to examination misconduct.
During this time, we expect parents to help their children by providing a peaceful, distraction-free study space and making sure they eat healthily and get enough sleep.
We wish every BECE candidate all the best for the examination, including good health, mental clarity, and protection.
Dear Editor
I wish to use your esteemed platform to welcome Mr Carlos Queiroz, our new coach for our senior national male football team, the Black Stars.
We have read a lot about him and I think looking at his CV, he represents our biggest ‘catch’ in this business.
When his name came up initially, some of us doubted whether we could land him considering our scarce resources.
A coach with experiences with Real Madrid, Manchester United at club sides and national team romance with South Africa and Iran speaks volumes of what he brings to the table.
However, we must not forget that CVs don’t play football. Football is played on the pitch and it is therefore the reason why the noise about his arrival must end and watch out for what he brings to the table.
Currently, we don’t have players we could call world class. Those that comes near that label like Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu are injured.
The only player making waves in Europe at the moment is Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City.
Carlos Queiroz is not coming as a magician. He would need players who are committed and very good enough. At this moment, we should be praying and supporting him to get the best out of our players.
Directly, I want to appeal to him to take a serious look at the players in individually and access their qualities before bringing them on board.
Some of the players are very good but have just failed or struggled to perform in the Black Stars jersey. One of his task must be to break that ice.
We need nothing bust the best for the World Cup. As Ghanaians let’s support Queiroz to get the best out of the players available.
Andy Muller,
Accra
