National Ambulance Service steps up efforts to return more ambulances to service

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) is intensifying efforts to restore grounded ambulances to active duty as part of measures to improve emergency response and strengthen fleet management across the country.

Chief Executive Officer of NAS, Dr George Kojo Owusu, inspected ongoing repairs at the Ashanti Regional Workshop on Wednesday, where teams are working to return non-operational ambulances to the road under the Service’s “Operation Restore Fleet” initiative.

The initiative is aimed at reducing vehicle downtime, improving the management of the ambulance fleet and ensuring that more ambulances are available to respond to emergencies in communities.

During the inspection, Dr Owusu commended the workshop team for its commitment and the practical steps being taken to speed up repairs and improve the efficiency of the facility.

A key part of the intervention is the involvement of automobile engineering students from Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who are currently undertaking industrial attachment at the workshop.

NAS is also exploring the possibility of engaging some of the students for national service after their attachment. The move is expected to strengthen the Service’s technical workforce and support faster turnaround times for vehicle repairs.

To improve accountability at the workshop, additional personnel from the Ministry of Health have been assigned to support documentation at the workshop and stores.

Their involvement is expected to strengthen record-keeping and inventory management, while ensuring that repairs, spare parts and maintenance activities are properly recorded and tracked.

NAS is also taking steps to strengthen security around ambulances kept at the workshop. Plans are underway to install CCTV cameras to improve surveillance and protect Service assets.

The Service is further providing office furniture, including chairs and tables, for newly posted staff handling administrative and documentation duties.

Dr Owusu said the various measures were part of a broader effort to improve fleet management and restore more ambulances to operational status.

He said the ultimate goal was to strengthen NAS’ capacity to provide timely and effective prehospital emergency care to people across Ghana.