The board members with officials of the Health Ministry
HEALTH MINISTER Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has inaugurated the first-ever governing board for the National Ambulance Service.
The 13-member board is chaired by Nana Wiafe Ababio.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Agyeman-Manu charged them to work on the challenges facing the ambulance service.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore the important role the ambulance service played in emergency healthcare delivery in the country.
He also took the opportunity to explain that most responses of his ministry were not considered when putting together the 2020 Auditor General’s report on COVID-19 expenditure.
“One thing is that, all the responses they were given were never taken into consideration when that report was done. We had to indeed procure 36 ambulances; supplier came to ask for extension till March. The extension was given, so we are still awaiting the supplier to bring these ambulances. Some advance payment was made because there were arrangements and then the rest of the money will be paid the supplier,” he said.
“Apart from that, we were also trying to get some more ambulances in addition to the one that the President in his own magnanimity and wisdom pre-empted COVID-19 to bring them into the system to handle the emergency cases during COVID-19,” he said.
The report revealed that the Ministry of Health entered into a US$4,049,460.12 agreement for the purchase of 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances in December 2021, but the ambulances were never delivered.
But the sector minister said the payment was part of measures taken for the procurement of more ambulances to augment the existing ones.
Nana Wiafe Ababio, in a remark, gave assurance that the board would work assiduously to get the National Ambulance Service to deliver quality emergency services.
“The board members and I are aware of the efforts of the National Ambulance Service and its staff led by its CEO in building and expanding the service since its inception without a governing board. It will, therefore, be the responsibility of the board to ensure that, all the successes achieved thus far, are sustained and more,” he added.
BY Jamila Akweley Okertchiri