For Immediate Release

7TH JANUARY, 2020

STOP THE NEEDLESS EXCUSES AND RELEASE THE AMBULANCES NOW MR.
PRESIDENT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) notes with great concern the refusal of the Akufo-Addo
government to release ambulances procured with taxpayers’ money for their intended purpose.
These ambulances, some of which were imported into the country some four (4) months ago, have
been lying idle at the forecourt of the State House despite a groundswell of public outcry that they
be released.
In spite of genuine calls for these ambulances to be distributed to complement the country’s
challenged National Ambulance Service and emergency health system, the vehicles are still parked
at the State House amidst a litany of lies that crumble under scrutiny almost every day.
It would be recalled, that following public condemnation of the continuous detention of the
ambulances last year, the Minister for Special Development Initiatives, Hawa Koomson told the
Public that the Akufo-Addo government was in the process of training drivers, paramedics and other
staff to operate the ambulances, hence the undue delay in distributing the ambulances. The Vice
President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is also on record to have said that the ambulances required
digitization.
But these flimsy excuses, alongside other cock and bull stories from the stables of government, were
later to be amended by President Akufo-Addo. In an answer to a question about the ambulances at
his last media encounter, President Akufo-Addo confessed that he refused a request from the
Minister for Special Development Initiatives to release the first batch of ambulances with the excuse
of wanting to ensure an even distribution of same so as to avoid accusations of favoritism against his
government.
The NDC is not surprised by these never-ending excuses which only typify the deception,
insensitivity and leadership paralysis that Ghanaians are being subjected to by inept President Akufo-
Addo and his wasteful government. IndeeSd, governments heartless handling of this ambulance
fiasco so far, underscores the fact that President Akufo-Addo has very little regard for the lives of
Ghanaians, particularly considering the snobbish remarks by the Minister of Special Development
Initiatives, Hawa Koomson that Ghanaians were already dying before the ambulances were procured.
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Even more bizarre, are the new reasons given recently by the National Ambulance Service, which
curiously was routed through the Ministry of Health and not the Ministry of Special Initiatives. The
claim that two weeks is required to label 307 ambulances, some of which have been in the country
since September last year is preposterous to say the least.
Like many discerning minds, it is now clear to us, that that the several conflicting excuses of
government on this matter are contrived and deliberately calculated to conceal the real intention of
government in this matter; which is to delay the distribution of the ambulances until few months to
the 2020 General Elections for cheap electoral gain.
As we mark Constitution Day today, in honor of the adoption of the 1992 Constitution of the Fourth
Republic of Ghana, we wish to remind President Akufo-Addo of his constitutional duty under Article
36(1) to take all necessary action to secure the maximum welfare of every person in Ghana.
The NDC joins the media and well-meaning Ghanaians to demand the immediate release of the
ambulances to help address the health needs of Ghanaians, with whose taxes these ambulances were
procured. President Akufo-Addo and his government must stop toying with precious lives and
release the ambulances without further delay. Ghanaians deserve better than this mediocrity and
insensitivity.

Signed,
SAMMY GYAMFI
National Communication Officer, NDC

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ACCRA-NORTH, GHANA