Second Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib has revealed that approximately 200 of the 275 vehicles purchased under the “One Constituency, One Ambulance” initiative during former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration are currently defective.
He further alleged that the current administration has no plan to repair them.
The Member of Parliament for the Weija Gbawe Constituency disclosed this during an interview on As it is in Ghana on Rainbow Radio 92.4FM UK and 87.5FM Ghana with host Sir Richie.
He noted that several of these grounded ambulances merely require their batteries replaced to return to service. However, those in charge have refused to take the necessary action.
According to the MP, the government is instead focusing on utilising the procurement system to purchase entirely new vehicles.
He indicated that administrative priorities have derailed to the point where the government is focusing on buying aboboyaa (motorised tricycles) to serve as ambulances.
He emphasised that governments are expected to introduce initiatives that transform lives, rather than engaging in activities designed to line private pockets.
“Former President Akufo-Addo initiated the One Constituency, One Ambulance programme to help transform how the ambulance service operates,” Shaib stated. “But I can tell you on authority that about 200 of those ambulances are defective. For some of these defective ambulances, it is simply a matter of batteries, but those in charge don’t want to do what is needful. What they are interested in is warming up to procure new ambulances, and what we saw was that they bought aboboyaa for health workers. This is a derailment mindset. We are thinking about ourselves and how to make money instead of developing our communities, constituencies, and the nation.”
He challenged the public and the media to verify his claims independently, urging people to contact the National Ambulance Service to find out how many of their ambulances are currently defective, the reasons behind their condition, and how many have been demobilised.
He noted that “some of these vehicles simply need to be sent for scheduled servicing, but this has been neglected”.
Due to these ongoing challenges and prolonged abandonment, the MP warned that batteries and other essential parts of the grounded ambulances are now being stolen.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
