The government is acquiring 100 new ambulances to replenish the fleet of the National Ambulance Service, as announced by President John Dramani Mahama. He mentioned that the 100 broken-down ambulances could also be repaired and returned to service if the necessary spare parts are obtained. “We will therefore purchase 100 new ambulances and acquire the parts needed to bring an additional 100 ambulances back into service,” the President stated during his address at the 68th Annual National General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association in Miotso, near Prampram, in the Greater Accra Region. The week-long meeting is on the theme: “The No Bed Syndrome: Reimagining a Befitting Emergency Response System for Ghana.”
Healthcare infrastructure
President John Dramani Mahama has stressed that financial assistance for specialised medical treatment must go hand in hand with efforts to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to provide such services locally.
He said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund had begun supporting patients with selected critical conditions, starting with cancers, while investments in specialised medical training and healthcare infrastructure would help expand access to essential services.
The President noted that the commissioning of a cardiac catheterisation laboratory at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had enhanced the facility’s ability to provide advanced cardiac care.
He added that ongoing construction of cardiology centres at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital would further improve access to specialised cardiac services once completed.
Mr Mahama described the loss of a medical doctor due to the absence of access to a catheterisation laboratory as unfortunate, stressing that government was working towards establishing three such facilities to address the gap.
He also identified organ transplantation as another critical area requiring investment and careful planning, revealing that preparations were underway to develop a framework for the delivery of transplant services, including an Organ Transplantation Bill to ensure their safe and ethical implementation.
“Issues of consent, donor protection, professional oversight and ongoing patient care require careful attention. We will draw on the expertise of the Ghana Medical Association and our specialists as this work progresses,” he stated.
Major hospital projects
President John Dramani Mahama has outlined a series of government investments aimed at expanding healthcare infrastructure and improving access to specialised medical services across the country. He said efforts were underway to complete the 509-bed maternity and children’s block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, a project that was suspended following Ghana’s debt default and subsequent debt restructuring.
According to him, the contractor is expected to return to the site soon to resume work. He also disclosed that construction had commenced on a new 400-bed maternity and children’s facility at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Expressing concern about the deteriorating state of the existing maternity and children’s block at Korle Bu, President Mahama said he was hopeful the facility would remain safe until the new structure was completed.
“Indeed, I have been praying every night that the current block used by our mothers and children does not collapse before we complete the new one,” he said. “The condition is so terrible, and we must pray that we complete the project quickly so that we can move them into the new facility.”
The President also highlighted progress on the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua, indicating that road construction had been completed, electricity had been connected, while work on the water supply pipeline was ongoing. He said the completion and operationalisation of the facility would help reduce congestion and ease the growing pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
On other healthcare projects, Mr Mahama disclosed that the government had earmarked GH¢200 million in the 2027 Budget to complete the long-delayed Police Hospital expansion, which is expected to increase the facility’s capacity to 300 beds. He further announced that the new 100-bed Tamale Police Hospital would be opened soon, while the 160-bed La General Hospital was expected to be completed next year. Work on the Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region is also scheduled to resume next year.
Additionally, the President said the government was working to complete 35 hospitals under the Agenda 111 programme, particularly facilities that had attained at least 70 per cent completion. “We are also packaging 35 of the Agenda 111 hospitals for completion. These are facilities that have reached at least 70 per cent completion, and we intend to re-award the contracts to ensure that they are completed,” he stated.
He explained that challenges associated with the existing contractual arrangements had delayed progress, but noted that the Attorney-General’s Department was reviewing the contracts to facilitate their re-award and allow construction to resume.
