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The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has raised concerns regarding the escalating number of prank calls flooding their emergency lines, surpassing a staggering 200 calls daily. These frivolous calls, often false alarms or fabricated emergencies, are crippling the GNFS’s ability to effectively respond to genuine crises.
The detrimental impact of prank calls extends beyond mere inconvenience, diverting crucial resources and attention away from legitimate emergencies. This diversion potentially leads to delayed responses to life-threatening situations. ACFO Henry Fatai Giwah, the Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, voiced profound worries during a recent interview on CiTi TV, highlighting the severity of the situation.
“Prank calls persist. Every day in our control room, we receive more than 200 calls. Sometimes dispatching teams based on false information leads us to the wrong location. That’s why verifying calls and even calling back to listen to the caller’s environment has become a norm,” remarked ACFO Giwah.
Despite a decrease in fire outbreaks in 2023, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the inundation of prank calls poses a substantial challenge to the efficient operation of the GNFS.
As the GNFS endeavors to tackle this issue, it emphasizes the gravity of false emergency reporting to the public. Understanding the repercussions of such actions is vital in ensuring the smooth and effective functioning of emergency services.
