The National Ambulance Service until quite recently, had no fuel for four months, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Service Prof. Ahmed Nuhu Zakaria has confirmed.

But the CEO was quick to add four months delay does not apply to all the 130 service stations. A station that has used up its monthly allocation would often have to wait for the next allocation.

He suspects that reports of a four-month delay may be exaggerated.

“There are delays because the fuel is not immediately available…the only time they get their fuel is when we have procured” Prof. Zakaria explained on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Tuesday.

It is believed that service stations are sometimes forced to contribute monies to attend to buy fuel for emergencies.

The CEO however indicated that the funds have since been released.

A public enquiry is on trying to unravel faulty points in Ghana’s emergency response systems following the tragic road disaster that left 63 dead. At least 8 more died while on admission at various hospitals.

A dire need of ambulance service became apparent during rescue efforts and emergency treatment.

In the Kintampo tragedy, it has been revealed that the ambulance for the district was out of commission.

There are 275 MPs and only 161 ambulances.  The CEO stated that there are 120 in operation and at least 40 that are in the workshop for servicing and maintenance.

CEO of National Ambulance Service, Prof. Nuhu Zakaria

Prof Zakaria confessed that “we need to really resource the emergency health services more “ and called for a dedicated source of funding.

The agency has received GH₵2million out of a budgetary allocation of GH₵15million, Prof. Zakaria revealed. He added that there are no guarantees that it will receive the remaining allocation before the year ends.

“We hope to get rest at the end of the year because there is a delay in the release of the funds and that is a major challenge”

The service needs the money to hire more personnel and buy spare parts. He confirmed that some stations have lacked basic oil filters but “not for long” periods.

With a Health Ministry budget of GH₵3.58 billion, the CEO has there are “equally competing health needs” and therefore wants Ghanaians to appreciate that “government is doing what is within its capabilities”.

The service did not use to have 161 ambulances.

Examining proposals for better and effective service, Prof Zakaria noted that the free service it provides needs to be examined.

He said in critical times, people pay taxi drivers to convey relatives in need of emergency care to the hospitals.

He also wants a dedicated source of funding for the Service instead of pushing for allocations from the Health Ministry’s budget.

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