“One Prank Could Cost a Life”: GNFS Warns as Fake Emergency Calls Threaten Lives
Fire Service warns that fake emergency calls continue to endanger lives despite recent improvements
- Prank calls dropped by 31.52% in early 2025
- Fake emergency calls still block real help
- GNFS urges responsible use of emergency lines and offers alternative numbers: 0302772446 / 0299340383
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is sounding the alarm over the ongoing threat of prank calls to its emergency lines, describing the issue as a major roadblock to saving lives.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, May 9, ADO 1 Derrick Elorm Adzokpa from the GNFS Public Relations Department voiced deep concern over the continued misuse of emergency numbers, despite a recent drop in such incidents.
“The prank calls are killing us,” Adzokpa lamented, highlighting the burden these hoaxes place on the Service’s ability to respond swiftly to real emergencies.
He noted a silver lining: a 31.52% decline in prank calls during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, thanks to intensified public education efforts.
“People are beginning to understand the real consequences of misusing emergency lines,” he said.
Despite the progress, Adzokpa stressed that even a single prank call can block a critical lifeline, potentially preventing someone in genuine danger from receiving help.
He encouraged the public to use alternate emergency numbers—0302772446 and 0299340383—if the primary hotlines (112 or 192) are busy.
The GNFS is urging all Ghanaians to act responsibly, reminding the public that misusing emergency services could have deadly consequences.
