Any government that buys ambulances must be commended - Alex Segbefia

Former Minister of Health under John Dramani Mahama’s administration, Alexander Segbefia has said even though his party is ‘not so happy’ with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he [The President] must be praised for the purchase of ambulances for the health sector.

“Any government that invest in buying ambulances for the country should be commended . . . there is an acute shortage of ambulances in the country and it is affecting the lives of our people . . . the issue we had was the delay in the deployment of these ambulances . . .” he said in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show ‘Ghana Montie’.

Mr Segbefia told host Mac Jerry Osei Agyeman that the party rather had issues as to why the ambulances were parked for long.

The ambulances procured for the National Ambulance Service under the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives were commissioned by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Black Star Square yesterday, Tuesday, January 28.

Branded with names of each of the 275 constituencies and emergency number, 112 on them, the ambulances were handed over to the various representatives in Parliament for their constituencies across the country, but it will be under the control of the National Ambulance Service.

Mr Segbefia prayed the ambulances will be maintained well to serve its purpose.

The programme is under the Ministry of Special Development Initiative christened, “One constituency, One ambulance”.

Speaking at the ceremony to commission the ambulances in Accra Tuesday [January 28, 2020], President Akufo-Addo said 145 new ambulance stations have been created to bring to 275 the total number of ambulances stations in Ghana.

“Government is committed to ensuring an effective Emergency Medical Service (EMS) to help improve our country's emergency response capabilities," the President said.