The Ahafo Region is facing a critical shortage of operational ambulances, with four out of six vehicles currently out of service, the Regional Administrative Manager of the National Ambulance Service, Prince Owusu Achina, has revealed.
The revelation follows a recent emergency in which a newborn was transported to a referral hospital in a private taxi with oxygen after the district’s ambulance fleet failed to respond.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Achina explained that the region’s ambulances in Kukuom, Kenyasi, Mim, and Goaso are all nonfunctional, due to broken engines or vehicles awaiting servicing.
“The Goaso ambulance, for instance, is currently parked at Duaywa Nkwanta after responding to an emergency. The region is relying on a Hilux vehicle and a small van to manage urgent cases, but these are inadequate for critical medical emergencies,” he said.
Mr. Achina noted that repairs are delayed because the regional workshop is full, and the cost of replacement engines is high, with one engine estimated at 50,000 cedis.
He assured that the National Ambulance Service headquarters has received some spare parts and plans are underway to fix the faulty vehicles.
He further highlighted the lack of essential medical infrastructure in the region.
“The whole region doesn’t even have an oxygen plant, but we are working to get at least a portable one,” he said, stressing that staff remain committed to saving lives despite limited resources.
Mr. Achina added that discussions with district managers, local assemblies, and other stakeholders are ongoing to secure funds for ambulance repairs and to establish a new ambulance station that will expand the region’s fleet and improve response times.
In addition, the Ahafo Region is expected to benefit from 30 new ambulances, which will be distributed nationwide to strengthen emergency medical services.
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