Body To Design New Emergency Response System

Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - A technical committee has been set up under the guidance of the National Communications Authority (NCA) to design a robust national Emergency Telephone Calls Response System that would involve both the fixed and mobile networks.
The committee was set up at a meeting of telecommunications service providers and emergency service providers following public concerns about lack of prompt response to the emergency telephone calls. The emergency service providers comprise the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, National Disaster Management Organisation and the Ambulance Service of the Ghana Health Service.
A statement from the Ministry of Communications on Wednesday said the meeting was to review the entire "emergency calls connect system" with the view to improving upon quality of service and a response time. The meeting agreed that with the advent of mobile phone technology, there is the need to harmonise the emergency number system in use to ensure its effectiveness for public use.
It said the emergency service providers have also tasked themselves to come out with "end user strategy" to fit into the new system under design.
"The vision is to create a public safety answering system, which would be effectively decentralised to promote rapid response to emergency calls."