The National Ambulance Service Dispatch Centre is advocating strict sanctions for prank callers who officials say, have been interrupting the work of emergency services.
Margaret Nartey who is in charge of the Centre told JoyNews’ Komla Adom in an interview that prank calls are making it difficult for them to decipher which caller is really in need of their services.
She disclosed that within an hour, the Centre “receives more than 200 prank calls,” impeding smooth operations.
While the Centre has been receiving these calls, it has been unable to identify the persons behind them and cause them to be apprehended.
As of Thursday, however, Madam Nartey said “what we have done this morning is to write all the numbers which called, the number of times they called and the time they called.
Government has released 307 ambulances to the Ghana Ambulance Serice to boost emergency services
“For more than 30 minutes, there was this caller who kept calling and hanging up without speaking and this affects our work. In a situation where someone is in a critical condition and they need us to provide critical care, that person is deprived access to us because someone else has engaged the line and this affects our work very badly,” she lamented.
The only solution to the problem, in her view, is a collaboration with the Police Service, “so that as soon as we get the numbers, we will give it to them and some of them can be either prosecuted or named and shamed.”
This is the only way the offensive behaviour can be curtailed, she added.
But the Centre is not alone in its complaint against prank calls.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the commissioning ceremony of the 307 ambulances on Tuesday appealed that the improvement in the provision of emergency services not to be abused as he had been informed that 90 percent of calls to the Centre were prank calls.
”This is not right as it only endangers the lives of Ghanaians in need,” the President stressed.
For any form of emergency – Police Service, Fire Service or Ambulance Service – the number to dial on all mobile networks is 112.
Latest Stories
-
Komenda Sugar Factory road will be completed by close of year – Roads Minister
11 minutes -
Finance Minister inaugurates new GRA board chaired by Kweku Rickett-Hagan
14 minutes -
GoldBod extends deadline for Ghanaian gold traders to reapply for licences
28 minutes -
WAEC declares war on high-tech exam malpractice ahead of 2025 WASSCE
37 minutes -
Finance Minister charges new members to bolster domestic revenue mobilisation as GRA Board is inaugurated
42 minutes -
‘Safety over profits’ – Experts push for AI, local protocols to end workplace deaths
1 hour -
Jonathan Alua: Lawyer writes open letter to GBA over resolution on CJ suspension
1 hour -
Diversify investment of pension funds to strengthen financial sector – GAB
1 hour -
‘Stand for justice, use your voice to defend the voiceless’ – Lebanese Ambassador urges law students
2 hours -
KMA resolves to demolish torched structures at Adum Blue Light arena
2 hours -
ADB to strengthen core mandate, lead MSME financial intermediation, says MD
2 hours -
Komenda Chief appeals to Roads Minister for asphalt roads
2 hours -
Education Minister assures PRINCOF of a change in the status of colleges of education
2 hours -
Kennedy Agyapong’s withdrawal from ‘Thank you tour’ is a good sign for NPP – Nana Akomea
2 hours -
Parrot Mouth serves infectious dose of humour at ‘Laugh it Off’
2 hours