A bipartisan committee constituted by Parliament to investigate the death of Augustina Awortwe, a pregnant lady who died in transit from Takoradi to Accra due to the alleged negligence of the National Ambulance Service crew has begun its work. 

The six-member Committee is chaired by MP for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr Ayew Afriyie. It was formed after a debate on a private members motion filed by three members of the Minority.

The members are; Madam Patricia Appiagyei, MP for Asokwa, Mr. Patrick Boamah, MP, Okaikoi Central, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, MP, Juaboso, Dr. Sebastian Sandare, MP, Daffiama-Bussie-Issa, and Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, MP, Techiman North.

JoyNews’ Parliamentary Correspondent Kwaku Asante reports that the husband of the deceased, John Obiri Yeboah was called as the first witness and has been informing the Committee of what happened on the day his wife died.

The husband of the deceased claimed that officials of the National Ambulance Service demanded some amount of money before they would transport his wife to seek medical attention.

John Obiri Yeboah claimed the delay was occasioned by his inability to pay an amount of GH¢600 demanded as cost of fuel for the trip.

Narrating his ordeal at the hands of the ambulance crew, he said he was devastated by the turn of events.

“I gave GH¢50 demanded of me to the ambulance driver to buy fuel, and after they bought the fuel, one of the officials told me we had to return to Fijai. When we got to Fijai there was an altercation between the officials and the hospital and all along my wife was helpless in the hospital.

“It was while we stood at the Cape Coast hospital entrance that one of the men came to tell me I have lost my wife. When I checked the time they said she died, it was the same time one of the officials told the driver to go and stake lotto. Later they told me the ambulance is not used to convey dead bodies,” he told the media in January this year.

Other family members of the deceased will also appear before the Committee to give an account of what transpired.

The Committee is also expected to invite officials of the National Ambulance Service.

The 30-year-old nursing mother, Augustina Awortwe, lost her life in January due to delay on the part of the ambulance crew transporting her to Accra.

The doctors referred her from the Holy Child Clinic at Fijai, to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

Following her death, Parliament constituted a committee to probe the death. The Committee was given up to five weeks to conduct investigation into the incident and submit its report to the House.