The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has lambasted the ruling government for what they term deliberate refusal to distribute the 275 ambulances procured with taxpayers’ money.
President Akufo-Addo had announced at his recent encounter with the media that the much talked about ambulances will be released on Monday, 6 January 2020.
However, a request from the National Ambulance Service through the Ministry of Health asked that the release of the ambulances be postponed for some technical issues to be dealt with.
However, the NDC in a statement says "the several conflicting excuses of the government on this matter are contrived and deliberately calculated to conceal the real intention of the government in this matter; which is to delay the distribution of the ambulances until a few months to the 2020 general elections for cheap electoral gain"
Read their full statement below
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 of 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 digitisation.
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 of 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 favouritism 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. Indeed, the government’s 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.
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 the government on this matter are contrived and deliberately calculated to conceal the real intention of the government in this matter; which is to delay the distribution of the ambulances until a few months to the 2020 general elections for cheap electoral gain.
As we mark Constitution Day today, in honour 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
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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GET A LIFE.
the despatch centre has to be set up and ready to receive calls and despatch the Ambulances to the communites to take the unwell to the hospitals. the support system has to be ready before the Ambulances are distributed. NDC on a daily basis are exposing their luck of understanding of issues!
Weak minds, do you think the old system of running ambulance service is the best, no wonder all vehicles have broken down completely beyond repair. Training and development is very important to ensure that the ambulance service is run efficiently and effectively. NDC, stop this uugly noise and tell us your vision for 2020
Ah anokwa the ones you imported are not fit for purpose and we paid money going waste. And today you are talking eh
Ignoramus, do you think ambulance is like an ordinary car that can be driven around immediately they are released from port, to ensure value for money service to Ghanaians so many things need to be done to make it more effective and efficient in operation. If you care to know ambulance is like a moving hospital, get it in your damnn heads
After sleeping and loo*ting our resources for 8 years, the NDC has suddenly woken up and among other irritating clams, had this to say".....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.....". For 8yrs, they failed to procure ambulances. When they attempted, they purchased the "trotro" version of ambulances which cannot be used. Today, they've found their voices. NDC is pathetic!
GARBAGE. How many ambulances did you bring in the eight years? You are ***barred word***
Some of these statements make the NDC not attractive to people like us. This is disgusting!! I don't know whether I should vote for NDC for such people in the realm of affairs or...
President is not above the law. One thing people dont understand is we voted for the president, he did not come to power by himself. So we should always ask him tough questions to answer. We give him the powers and he is using them. So let us not be afraid asking him or them tough questions in our favour not in his or their favour
This failed NDC should do the needful and stop the unnecessary noise. What a failed party.