Prank calls are endangering lives – GNFS warns – Nsemkeka

Prank calls are endangering lives – GNFS warns – Nsemkeka

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has issued a strong warning about the continued abuse of its emergency lines by prank callers, stressing that the practice is jeopardising the lives of citizens who genuinely need help.

Speaking during an interview on Channel One TV on Friday, May 9, ADO I Derrick Elorm Adzokpa of the GNFS Public Relations Department expressed deep frustration.

“The prank calls are killing us,” Adzokpa said, explaining that false alarms tie up critical lines and delay emergency responses.

Although there was a 31.52% drop in prank calls in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024—an improvement Adzokpa attributed to increased public education—the issue remains serious.

He illustrated the danger: “Sometimes, when there is an emergency and you call 112 or 192 and it’s not going through, it means someone else is on the line, and that could be a prank call.
You can even deny someone who has a real issue the help they urgently need.”

Adzokpa urged the public to consider alternative emergency lines—0302 772 446 and 0299 340 383—if the main numbers are busy. He assured that these hotlines are monitored and callers will be connected to a dispatcher without delay.

Reiterating the GNFS’s appeal for responsible behaviour, Adzokpa emphasised, “Even one prank call can cost lives.”

He called on Ghanaians to take the issue seriously and reserve emergency lines strictly for real crises.