The Ghana National Ambulance Service (GNAS) has raised serious concerns over the misuse of emergency sirens by certain motorists, especially hearse operators and individuals using motorcades to navigate through traffic.
This reckless behavior is not only illegal but also hinders the emergency response efforts, as many drivers fail to yield the right of way to genuine emergency vehicles.
Paemt Sommik Duut Miilon, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ambulance Service, expressed his frustration about the growing challenge of dealing with traffic congestion caused by such siren misuse. He pointed out that hearse operators frequently use sirens despite having no medical emergency, leading to avoidable delays in critical response times.
“On weekends, you’ll see hearse operators using sirens with no legitimate emergency at all. These drivers should be arrested and prosecuted,” Mr. Duut Miilon stated on Luv FM. He further emphasized the need for swift action from authorities to enforce the proper use of sirens and ensure that genuine emergency vehicles can move freely through traffic.
In addition, he urged all road users to be more cooperative, especially during times when sirens are activated for real emergencies, as these delays are taking a toll on response times. Currently, while international standards aim for an 8-minute response time to emergencies, the Ashanti Region averages 17 minutes, largely due to misuse of sirens and other factors, such as prank calls.
Mr. Duut Miilon also called out the disturbing trend of prank calls, which flood the emergency dispatch line. These calls, numbering 200-300 daily, divert valuable resources and prevent EMS professionals from reaching those in genuine need.
“Prank calls aren’t just a nuisance, they can be life-threatening distractions,” he cautioned.
