Ambulance Service CEO warns: Ghana risks more lives without national air ambulance system
Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service, Professor Ahmed Nuhu Zakariah, is urging the immediate creation of a national air ambulance system to improve emergency responses, especially after aviation accidents in remote areas.
He stressed that air ambulances are not a luxury, but a necessity. In the event of a plane crash far from hospitals or cities, road ambulances simply cannot respond fast enough, and right now, Ghana does not have a single dedicated air ambulance in operation.
Meeting with the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, Professor Zakariah said relying on the Ghana Air Force is not the solution. The Air Force is not an air ambulance system. It is time we establish one, he stated, calling for urgent collaboration with key stakeholders.
He pointed out that some airports still lack on-site ambulance services, a critical oversight that could cost lives in emergencies. We must act fast to fix these gaps, he said.
Currently, the National Ambulance Service operates just over 300 ambulances for a population of more than 33 million, which is double the recommended international ambulance-to-population ratio. This shortfall makes the call for an air ambulance service even more urgent.
The Acting Commissioner of the Bureau, John M K Wumborti, echoed the need for stronger collaboration. He said the Bureau is building rapid response capacity and plans to launch public awareness campaigns to support emergency preparedness.
By: Linda Akite
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