Prank callers to the emergency number (112) set up to facilitate assistance to persons in need will be blocked from Friday, March 27, 2020.
The Ministry of Communications in a statement said the move is aimed at improving Ghana’s emergency response rate in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Between 28th January 2020 to 16th March, 2020, the 112 emergency call centre recorded a total of 1,887,125 prank calls with only 15,801 being real emergency-related calls, according to the statement.
Health authorities in the Ashanti Region earlier said they were collaborating with the security agencies to track and arrest persons who engage in prank calls.
The Regional Health Directorate said some members of the general public make prank calls with the emergency lines put out to receive information on suspected Coronavirus cases.
Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang speaking at a news conference in Kumasi said members of the public engaging in such acts will be dealt with by the security agencies.
The emergency Technicians at the National Ambulance Service Dispatch Centre expressed similar concerns months ago.
It indicated that some individuals were interrupting their work with prank calls. Matilda Nartey, Head of Dispatch at the centre, in an interview with Citi News, revealed that her outfit records as high as over 200 prank calls in an hour, a situation she described as worrying.
She, however, disclosed that measures are being put in place, in collaboration with the Police so that they could name and shame those who engage in such acts as well as prosecuting them.
Source: Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
