#National News

COPG slams PURA over delay in rolling out unified toll-free number

Jan 23, 2026, 1:19 PM | Article By: Alkali Cham

A pressure group dubbed -Coalition of Progressive Gambians (COPG), has slammed the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) for what it describes as its failure to introduce toll-free national emergency number system.

In a statement shared with this reporter, Celestine Kujabi, secretary of the coalition, described the act as unacceptable that emergency numbers in The Gambia remain non-toll free and largely restricted to Qcell subscribers, excluding users of other GSM networks.

This situation, he added, represents clear regulatory lapse and direct threat to public safety.

Mr Kujabi stated that emergency services must be accessible to all citizens irrespective of network provider.

He recalled that over the years COPG has engaged PURA and GSM operators to advocate for a functional toll-free emergency system to support police, fire and rescue service, ambulance services which were fruitless.

The absence of single toll-free emergency number, he believes, endangers lives during medical emergencies such as fires and security incidents.

According to him, COPG demands that PURA immediately publish clear implementation timeline to compel full compliance of all GSM operators to introduce free toll emergency number.

Share Article