National Ambulance Service defends grounded fleet in Ghana

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has responded to an investigative report by GHOne TV regarding grounded ambulances, clarifying that the vehicles are not abandoned but are awaiting major repairs or recovering from accidents.

In a statement issued on September 21, 2026, the NAS explained that the 307 Mercedes-Benz ambulances procured in January 2020 have faced high utilization and difficult terrain over the past six years. This has resulted in mechanical faults, wear and tear, and road traffic accidents. The Service noted that some vehicles require specialized spare parts and extensive work at its central workshop.

To address downtime, the NAS is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to expedite spare part procurement and operationalize regional maintenance centers. Despite the grounded vehicles, the NAS maintains that it remains operational across all 16 regions, handling an average of over 300 emergency cases daily, and that the national emergency number, 112, remains active 24/7.