Nearly 40 percent of Ghana’s ambulance fleet is currently out of service due to ageing vehicles and maintenance challenges, an official of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has disclosed.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV, Martin Ewuah Amoah, a Clinical Auditor for the Southern Zone of the Service, revealed that 127 out of the country’s 318 ambulances are grounded, leaving only 191 vehicles operational nationwide.
According to Martin Ewuah Amoah, ambulances typically have an operational lifespan of about five years. Beyond that period, maintenance becomes more frequent and costly, especially in the absence of a structured replacement programme. He noted that the ageing fleet is putting pressure on emergency response efforts across the country.
The disclosure, has renewed concerns about the state of Ghana’s emergency medical infrastructure and its capacity to respond swiftly to critical cases.
The issue has gained heightened public attention following the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah, who was involved in a hit-and-run accident at the Circle Overpass on February 6. Although he was reportedly stabilized by emergency medical personnel, he later died after efforts to secure a hospital bed proved unsuccessful.
The incident has sparked broader discussions about gaps within the emergency healthcare system, including ambulance availability, hospital capacity, and long-term investment in critical response infrastructure.
Stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention to refurbish or replace ageing ambulances to ensure reliable emergency services and prevent avoidable fatalities.