June 4, 2021

The Minority on the Health Committee in Parliament is demanding independent investigation into circumstances that led to the use of an ambulance to carry cement bags on a video that has been on circulation on social media in recent times.

According to the Ranking Member on Health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh, explanation offered by the National Ambulance Service that the act was committed by a mechanic working on the vehicle, which was still in the custody of the supplier Ghana Autogroup Limited for servicing is an insult to the integrity of Ghanaians.

“The silence of the Ministry is too loud on issues of public interest, and therefore, we are calling on the Minister to constitute an independent probe into the matter for Ghanaians to know who and who are culpable, and who has been punished for that offence,” he added.

The Juaboso MP also alleged that despite being distributed to constituencies across the country, the ambulances have not been properly integrated into the healthcare system, hence the idleness of the vehicles, hence such a result.

And added that when well-integrated, when they are called upon, they can move from one healthcare center with patients to the other. According to him, as the “No Bed Syndrome” is still with Ghanaians, “the Ministry has not been able to increase beds that is required, hence the Minister must think outside the box and find an IT medical center where medial doctors would be calling through to call ambulances”.

Again, with this, it would be easy to identify where there are empty beds. “It would not be the responsibility of the patients to be looking for beds all over; this is common sense and highly expected of the Ministry”, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com