The National Ambulance Service (NAS) of Ghana has made significant strides in expanding its fleet and personnel, but a recent statement by Deputy Director of Public Relations Simmons Yussif Kewura claiming that "Ghana has enough ambulances" has sparked debate. As a medical doctor and health policy analyst who has studied Ghana's NAS, I have experienced firsthand the operational challenges faced by the service, including delayed dispatches, vehicles awaiting repairs, and fuel shortages.
A 2024 study in the African Journal of Emergency Medicine highlights the growth of Ghana's ambulance service. In 2004, NAS had only nine ambulances and 64 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). By 2022, this had increased to 356 ambulances and 3,473 EMTs, with stations in all 261 districts. However, having more ambulances does not necessarily mean that one will be available when a patient needs it.
The same study found that ambulances were available about 77 per cent of the time in 2022, ranging from 66.2 to 86.3 per cent across regions. Roughly eight out of every 10 ambulance trips were to move patients from one health facility to another. A recent report by Citinewsroom in February 2026 found that 127 of 318 ambulances were out of service, leaving 191 operational, citing the vehicles' age and the need for replacement.
The policy question is not how many ambulances Ghana has, but how many are working, where they are, and whether a patient needing an urgent transfer can reach one in time. This mirrors World Health Organization guidance that an effective ambulance service depends on more than vehicles, extending to dispatch, equipment, trained staff, and clinical protocols.
The author of the article, Dr. Nicholas Addae Mensah, a medical doctor, development economist, and Health Policy Analyst at International Perspectives for Policy & Governance (IPPG), shared a personal experience where he had to drive a critically ill patient to another hospital in a private car due to the unavailability of an operational ambulance.
Dr. Mensah emphasizes that NAS leadership must look beyond procuring more ambulances toward sustainable financing that keeps existing vehicles fueled, maintained, and ready, with EMTs equipped and trained to respond. Patients and their families should not have to bridge that gap, and health professionals should not be put at unnecessary risk in doing so.
The article highlights the need for evidence-based policy to address the operational challenges faced by Ghana's ambulance service. Dr. Mensah's experience and research underscore the importance of a well-functioning ambulance service in saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes in Ghana.
Key points
- Ghana's National Ambulance Service faces operational challenges despite significant growth in its fleet and personnel.
- The availability of ambulances is crucial, but not the only factor in ensuring access to emergency medical services.
- Sustainable financing and effective management are essential to addressing the challenges faced by Ghana's ambulance service.
