The numbers
The harmonised national emergency number is 112, which should route you to police, fire or ambulance. The traditional direct lines are the Ghana Police Service on 191, the Ghana National Fire Service on 192 and the National Ambulance Service on 193. A common misconception is that 911 works in Ghana. It is not the standard number, so do not rely on it. These calls are free from a mobile, though response times vary and rural coverage can be patchy.
- Save 112, 191, 192 and 193 in your phone before you land.
- Check that a short-code call actually connects on your network, since routing can differ.
Who to actually call
For a medical emergency, 193 reaches the ambulance service, but ambulances can be slow, and in the cities many people take a taxi or ride-hailing car to a private hospital instead. For crime in progress or immediate danger, call 191 or 112. For fire, call 192. For smaller matters: a lost phone, a dispute with a driver, a theft already over, going to the nearest police station in person is usually more effective than a phone call.
- Private hospitals in Accra and Kumasi are often faster than waiting for a public ambulance.
- Get a police report for any theft you intend to claim on insurance.
Beyond the emergency services
Your embassy's consular number is the one to call for a lost passport, an arrest, a serious injury or a death in the family. Your hotel or host is a practical first call for anything non-urgent. Electricity and water faults go to the utility providers rather than the emergency services, and there are dedicated hotlines for some utilities and for the tourism authority.
- Store your embassy, hotel, insurer and a trusted local contact as favourites in your phone.
- Give a friend or family member your itinerary and a check-in schedule.
- Consider travel insurance with a 24-hour assistance line.
Practical preparation
Write your key numbers on paper as well as storing them in your phone, in case the battery dies or the device is stolen. If you are travelling outside the cities, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, and note the nearest clinic. Keep a photocopy of your passport and visa somewhere separate from the original.
- A cheap local SIM plus a power bank is a genuinely useful safety kit.
- Check in with someone when you arrive somewhere remote, and again when you leave.
Rules, fees and opening hours change. Confirm anything that matters before you rely on it.