Residents 'shocked' after popular Social Commentator attempts suicide in open

Residents around the Obitsebi Lampteey roundabout in Accra expressed shock as they woke up Tuesday morning to a man sitting on top of the memorial statue of Ghanaian patriot Obetsebi Lamptey, attempting to commit suicide.

It was later revealed that the said man was anti-suicide advocate and social commentator Ernest Birmeh, popularly known as Dr. Think Twice and the act was orchestrated to draw attention to the rise in suicidal deaths in the country.

According to eye witnesses the middle-aged man was aided by two other persons to climb the 20 feet memorial statue at the roundabout in the early hours of the morning.

After settling on top of the statue, Dr Think Twice started shouting that there is no essence in living because his wife has left him and was going to jump to his death.

His action is said to have drawn the attention of pedestrians who gathered beneath the statue to witness the event.

The situation caused a joint team of police and fire service personal to be dispatched to the area. He was then ’rescued’ and whisked away in handcuffs.

There continues to be recurrent cases of suicide across Ghana even though the act remains a criminal offence under the laws of the country.

Advocates have called for the law to be abolished by arguing that punishment is not the solution to suicide attempts.