President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to enhance Ghana's emergency medical response capacity by procuring 200 ambulances. The government will purchase 100 new ambulances and acquire spare parts to repair another 100 vehicles currently out of service. This announcement was made at the 68th Annual National General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) held at Miotso near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.
The President's announcement aligns with the conference theme, "The No Bed Syndrome: Reimagining a Befitting Emergency Response System for Ghana". He emphasized the need for government support for specialised medical care to be matched with investments in facilities and expertise required to provide such services locally. The Ghana Medical Trust Fund has begun supporting patients with selected serious conditions, starting with cancers.
President Mahama cited the cardiac catheterisation laboratory recently commissioned at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as a significant addition to Ghana's advanced cardiac care services. Cardiology centres under construction at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital will further improve access to specialised cardiac treatment when completed. The President expressed regret over the loss of a medical doctor due to the lack of access to a catheterisation laboratory.
The President identified organ transplantation as another area where the government is laying the groundwork for expanded specialised healthcare. Work is underway on a national transplantation framework, including an organ transplantation Bill to provide the legal and regulatory basis for the safe and ethical delivery of such services. The government will draw on the expertise of the Ghana Medical Association and specialists as this work progresses.
President Mahama also highlighted progress on various healthcare infrastructure projects. The government is working to complete the 509-bed maternity and children's block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, whose construction was disrupted by Ghana's debt defaults and subsequent debt restructuring. Construction has begun on a new 400-bed maternity and children's block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The President expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of the existing maternity and children's block at Korle Bu, saying its replacement is urgently needed. He also disclosed that the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua is nearing completion, with road construction completed and electricity connected to the facility. The hospital will help reduce congestion and ease pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The government has allocated GH¢200 million in the 2027 Budget to complete the long-delayed Police Hospital expansion project, which is expected to increase the facility's capacity to 300 beds. A new 100-bed Tamale Police Hospital will be opened soon, while the 160-bed La General Hospital, which has experienced construction delays, is expected to be completed next year. The President also announced that work on the Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region will resume next year.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government plans to procure 200 ambulances to improve the country's emergency medical response capacity.
- President Mahama emphasized the need for investments in healthcare infrastructure and expertise to provide specialised medical services locally.
- The government has allocated GH¢200 million to complete the Police Hospital expansion project and is working to complete various healthcare infrastructure projects.
