The Ghana Ambulance Service has issued a stern warning to the public regarding the increasing misuse of its emergency lines.
The Greater Accra Regional Manager, Daniel Asare, has emphasized that the service has been inundated with calls that are either pranks or enquiries to check whether personnel are on duty and if the emergency call system is functioning.
He highlighted that the service records nearly 5,000 prank calls each month in Greater Accra alone.
“Some people call and say I’ve eaten and I’m tired, so come and pick me up to the hospital.
“Others call simply to check whether the service personnel are on duty or if the emergency call system is working,” he stated.
Mr. Asare asserted that, despite the false alerts, the ambulance service is required by policy to respond to every call indicating that such act places unnecessary strain on personnel, fuel, and response capacity, potentially delaying responses to genuine emergencies and putting lives at risk.
To combat this misuse, Mr. Asare noted that the service is collaborating with the Ghana Police Service to trace prank callers and ensure that offenders face legal consequences.
He further urged the public to use the ambulance service responsibly, reserving emergency lines strictly for life-threatening situations.
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
