127 Out of 318 Ambulances Grounded Across Ghana

A total of 127 ambulances out of 318 operated by the National Ambulance Service are currently grounded across Ghana, raising concerns about emergency response capacity nationwide.

Officials familiar with the situation say the grounded vehicles are largely due to mechanical faults, ageing fleets, and maintenance challenges, which have reduced the number of ambulances available for active duty. This means fewer than two-thirds of the country’s ambulance fleet is operational at a time when demand for emergency medical services continues to rise.

Health sector observers warn that the reduced fleet could delay emergency response times, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where ambulances already serve wide catchment zones. In urban centres, the pressure has also increased, with fewer vehicles covering growing populations and heavy traffic conditions.

Sources within the service indicate that some of the ambulances have been off the road for extended periods due to lack of spare parts and funding constraints affecting routine servicing and major repairs. Others have reportedly exceeded their optimal service life and require refurbishment or replacement.

The development has sparked renewed calls for government to prioritise fleet renewal and maintenance, including dedicated funding for spare parts, workshops, and trained mechanics. Stakeholders also stress the need for better preventive maintenance to reduce frequent breakdowns.

Public health advocates caution that ambulances are a critical link in Ghana’s emergency healthcare chain, especially for accident victims, pregnant women, and critically ill patients. Any prolonged reduction in operational capacity, they say, could have serious implications for patient outcomes.

For now, authorities say efforts are ongoing to restore some of the grounded ambulances to service, while longer-term plans are being considered to strengthen the country’s emergency medical response system.