Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced on Joy News’ PM Express that the government will add 100 new ambulances to Ghana’s national fleet in 2027, a move aimed at strengthening emergency medical services across the country.
Akandoh explained that the government inherited a fleet where many ambulances were grounded and none were insured. He said the ministry has since insured the existing vehicles and restored many to service, bringing the number of functioning ambulances to over 200.
"As I speak to you now, we have more than 200 ambulances functioning," Akandoh told reporters. He added, "We are going to replenish the fleet in 2027. We are going to add brand new 100 vehicles."
When asked how the new ambulances would be distributed, Akandoh noted that no final decision had yet been taken on the distribution model. He suggested that areas with faulty or non‑functional ambulances could be prioritised, saying, "I believe that if you have an ambulance within a particular area, and that ambulance is faulty, or is no longer functional, it’s only fair to replace that ambulance."
The minister also highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the previous “one constituency, one ambulance” system, noting that the government is reviewing whether to continue or revise the approach.
Akandoh said the ambulance expansion is part of broader measures to improve emergency care, including a pilot electronic emergency bed management system that will give health authorities visibility over available beds and help manage limited capacity. The system, piloted at Ridge Hospital’s command centre, will also identify patients who remain in emergency units for more than 24 hours and prompt follow‑up.
In addition to fleet expansion, the ministry is expanding emergency capacity at major facilities such as Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital, as part of efforts to implement recommendations for a stronger emergency care system.
What to watch next: The government will soon release a detailed distribution plan for the new ambulances, and the pilot bed‑management system will be evaluated for wider rollout across the country.
