The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has explained that its preliminary investigation has revealed that a mechanic contracted to repair one of its ambulances used it in carry cement bags at a location believed to be Budumbura in the Central region.
A video of some men loading some cement bags into one of the ambulances acquired by the state for the 270 constituencies went viral a couple of days ago. The incident sparked various debates with many people condemning that act by the unknown persons seen in the video.
The video shows the ambulance which is looking fairly new, parked at what looks like a cement depot with some men carrying bags of cement into it. Shortly after the video went viral Ghanaians took to various social media platforms to express their displeasure over the shameful act. Others blamed the NAS for what they termed as negligence and wondered how some persons could have the gut to use the ambulance for carrying bags of cement.
Reacting to the video in a statement, the NAS explained that the incident was captured on or around March 26, 2021 and added that the vehicle registration of the said ambulance is GV 537-20. The statement further noted that the ambulance as at the time of the incident was in the custody of the suppliers of the ambulance, Service Ghana Autogroup Ltd.
Continuing it stated that the vehicle was one of the Ambulances being fixed for minor faults by the supplier before it will be received and integrated into the National Ambulance Service fleet.
The statement which was signed by the Head of Public Relations at NAS, Simmons Yussif Kewura, pointed out that the said suppliers had caused the Ambulance to be sent to its garage to address a minor fault. It continued that his outfit, the NAS had earlier declined to take custody of the vehicle because of the said fault resulting in the decision by Service Ghana Autogroup Ltd to send it to a garage for some repair works.
The NAS PRO added that a mechanic of the said garage, one Nana Ofosu, a Gear Box specialist after the repairs, drove the ambulance toward the Mallam-Kasoa-Winneba Road on a test drive and during the process employed the vehicle for his private purposes.
Concluding, the statement pointed that the said ambulance is still in the custody of Service Ghana Autogroup Ltd adding that it is not being used by the paramedics of the National Ambulance Service and therefore not part of the National Ambulance Service fleet.
See below the press statement from the National Ambulance Service (NAS)
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