The Greater Regional Administrator of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr. Daniel Asare, has expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of prank calls received by the Service’s dispatch control.
He revealed that within just a month, the emergency hotline recorded about 5,000 prank calls, disrupting operations and delaying responses to real emergencies.
Dr. Asare described the situation as a major challenge affecting the smooth administration of the Service.
He made this known during the NAS Annual Performance Review held in Accra, where officials assessed the Service’s achievements and challenges over the past year.
He indicated “These prank calls are not just a nuisance; they are putting lives at risk,” Dr. Asare emphasized. When pranksters clog our emergency lines, it prevents genuine distress calls from getting through, and that could mean the difference between life and death” Dr Asare emphasized.
The Administrator called for stricter measures to curb the menace, including public education on the importance of the emergency hotline and potential legal consequences for prank callers.
He also appealed to the public to use the emergency number responsibly to ensure that ambulances are dispatched to those who truly need them.
The National Ambulance Service continues to play a crucial role in providing pre-hospital emergency care across the country.
However, challenges such as prank calls, limited resources, and delayed responses due to heavy traffic remain major concerns for the Service.
Officials at the review meeting reiterated their commitment to improving efficiency and called on all stakeholders to support efforts to enhance emergency medical services in the country.
