Suspend ambulance distribution – Health Minister, Ambulance service tell Akufo-Addo
The Ministry of Health and the National Ambulance Service (NAS) have appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to delay the proposed distribution of some 300 ambulances to save lives.
According to the NAS, the commissioning of the ambulances had been scheduled for Monday, January 6, 2019, but they want the process deferred to a later date citing “technical issues” which have not been completed to ensure efficient management of the ambulances.
After reviewing the request of the NAS, Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said he endorses the demand for a delay and has forwarded the NAS letter in addition to a formal letter from the ministry to President Akufo-Addo for action.
“Having engaged them and listened to the reasons for the request for the postponement, I would like to add my voice for their request to be granted,” he stated in the letter.
Discussions related to the procured ambulances from Turkey dominated the airwaves after it was discovered that some 96 out of the total number of ambulances had been parked at the State House for months and left at the mercy of the weather.
Even though the Minority, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and some pressure groups stated reasons to distribute the ambulances for emergency services that will save lives, the government defended the hold-up of hold-up.
Mr Akufo-Addo, in press encounter in 2019 stated that the buses will be distributed to fulfil its One Constituency-One Ambulance initiative after all the buses have reached the shored of Ghana.
Below are the letters of the Health Minister and the NAS stating reasons for the suspension:
