Imagine you are witnessing an accident or a heart attack of a relative. It could be you in that situation. It could be me.

There could be so much but little that we can do at that moment: shout Jesus Christ or use our limited or lack of first aid knowledge. Whatever choice we make at that instant, you and I know that urgent medical assistance would trump every other option. 

But how can that transition from that accident site on the outskirts of an unknown town or from that house to the hospital be made effortless?

Doubtless, having access to an equipped ambulance, which can smoothly convey people in such situations to the hospital will be the preferred choice.

Months ago, the public became aware of the fact that there were only 55 working ambulances in the country before 48 were recently added last month.

Before the 48 were purchased, the ratio of Ghanaians to working ambulances was estimated at 520,000:1. Yes, 520,000 Ghanaians are expected to share one ambulance. Of course, that is no news. What is news is that I didn’t use “were” but “are” in the last sentence.

After six weeks of the arrival of the 48 ambulances in the country, the vehicles are still relaxing on the premises of Parliament. So nothing has changed.

The ratio is still 520,000:1.

It begs the question, why are the ambulances still at Parliament’s premises? Could it be that the government is waiting for all the 300 ambulances to arrive in December? After that, a huge Public Relations stunt bombarding Ghanaians that the government is better than its predecessor unleashed? I have no qualms about the government’s strategies going into 2020. 

But as a Ghanaian who, at any given moment can be vulnerable and might need the services of an ambulance, I think it is ridiculous for the government to even weigh the thought of waiting until all the ambulances arrive before it distributes them. Hopefully, this is not the case.

Or is it that the government don’t want to be seen as preferential? If so, then I believe the Ghana Statistical Service and the Ghana Health Service have data to show the parts of the country that need the services of those ambulances urgently. Apart from that, I do not see any other reason that is holding up the distribution of the ambulances.

A President has commissioned an unfinished sugar factory in this country before. Completed hospitals have been left unutilised based on unfounded reasons. As a result, I will not be too surprised if the government has the idea of waiting until the end of the year to distribute the ambulances.

Again, 69 Hyundai Gallopers, bought with taxpayers’ monies, were forgotten under harsh rays and plummeting rains for 18 years and “left to rot” in this country.

Why should we worry, if just 48 ambulances bought with taxpayers’ sweat have not been put to use for only a month and a half? 

It seems that is our lot. Because none of us - the commoners - will be lifted by a helicopter if we find ourselves involved in an accident. Some people – the political class- will be swept up in a manner akin to Satan’s promise to Jesus. Their legs will never touch a stone. 

Are we counted as equal citizens then?

Unfortunately, the situation will remain the same. Why? As long as we are unwilling to demand for what is properly due us nothing will change. Blinded by political folds, most of us are still clinging to the idea that, “our party is always right.”

However, when the first batch of ambulances arrived in the country, the President said the second batch would be “due in Ghana by the first week in October.” It is the 26th of October. 

Can we trust the President’s word that “by the end of this year, they {the ambulances} will all be in”?

Can we also put our trust in the government that when the ambulances arrive, whenever they do, they will be distributed presto?