In a bid to ensure an efficient emergency response, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is taking a stern stance against prank callers who have been causing unnecessary delays and endangering lives.
Divisional Officer III, Ebenezer Yenzu, the Public Relations Officer for the GNFS Tema Regional Command, has highlighted the seriousness of this issue.
Yenzu expressed his concern about the significant number of hoax calls the GNFS has been receiving, emphasizing the toll it takes on their resources and operations.
He provided an example of the challenges faced, explaining, "Imagine that after leaving Tema for Sakumono, we finally realize that the call was a joke, but by this time Tema Community Two had experienced a true emergency. For instance, millions of cedis' worth of property would have been lost before we returned to the real fire scene."
Yenzu revealed that most of these prank callers are teenagers who find the calls amusing, often making false reports just after returning home from school.
To combat this issue, the GNFS has implemented measures to trace and arrest prank callers.
Yenzu warned Ghanaians, particularly the youth, against engaging in such behavior. Those apprehended will face appropriate legal consequences for their actions.
Yenzu emphasized that while some persistent prank callers have already been identified and dealt with in the past, the GNFS is taking a proactive approach to ensure that such incidents are curbed effectively.
Investigations are ongoing to identify and take action against prank callers, ultimately ensuring a smoother and faster emergency response system.