The ambulance that serves Lawra Municipality in the Upper West Region has been refurbished and returned to operation after more than two years out of service. The vehicle, which had been out of commission since early 2024, had forced pregnant women and critically ill patients to be transported in private cars and tricycles, disrupting emergency referrals across the district.
Bede A. Ziedeng, the Member of Parliament for Lawra, first petitioned the Health Minister in April 2025 when the breakdown became a major challenge to emergency healthcare delivery. He offered to cover the replacement of the damaged engine at an estimated cost of GH¢50,000, but a technical assessment revealed that the vehicle required more extensive repairs. The ambulance was subsequently placed on a priority list for refurbishment by the National Ambulance Service.
The refurbishment, which cost more than GH¢130,000, was completed after engagements between the MP, the Ministry of Health and the National Ambulance Service. The vehicle has now been returned to Lawra to support emergency referrals.
Lawra Municipal Director of Health Services, Phoebe Balagumyetime, described the return of the ambulance as a major milestone, saying its absence had made emergency referrals particularly difficult. She urged residents to protect and use the ambulance responsibly to ensure its continued availability and called for a sustainable mechanism to manage charges associated with ambulance services so that poor and vulnerable residents are not denied emergency transportation because they cannot afford the cost.
Meanwhile, the Acting Medical Superintendent of the Lawra Municipal Hospital, Dr David Aboagye, has appealed for additional doctors, nurses, midwives and other health professionals to strengthen healthcare delivery. He is currently the only medical officer at the hospital, describing the situation as challenging and stressing the need for adequate staffing, particularly for emergency care.
The Lawra Municipal Ambulance Officer, Stephen Nwantro, dismissed allegations that the ambulance’s return had been delayed for political reasons, insisting that ambulance personnel respond to emergencies without discrimination. He, however, appealed for the immediate provision of a spare tyre, noting that although the ambulance currently has four new tyres, it has no spare.
With the ambulance back in service, emergency transport for Lawra residents should improve markedly, restoring a critical link in the region’s healthcare delivery system.
