NAS CEO Hosts Leadership and Students of Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics of KNUST
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to strengthening emergency medical services delivery across Ghana through continuous engagement with academia, health partners, and future healthcare professionals.
At an educational interaction session held at the NAS headquarters with leadership and students of the Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service, Dr. George Kojo Owusu, delivered a thought-provoking address on the realities, challenges, and progress of pre-hospital emergency care in Ghana.
Welcoming participants to the engagement, Dr. Owusu emphasized that there is often a significant difference between policy expectations and the actual operational realities on the ground, particularly regarding the availability of resources needed for effective emergency response.
He reiterated the core mandate of the National Ambulance Service- the effective administration and coordination of ambulance services nationwide, aimed at ensuring timely and professional pre-hospital care to persons in distress.
Speaking candidly on operational performance indicators, Dr. Owusu noted that while the internationally accepted ambulance response time is 10 minutes, Ghana currently averages about 22 minutes, highlighting a critical gap that the Service continues to work tirelessly to reduce.
He further explained that although the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an ambulance-to-population ratio of 1 ambulance to every 25,000 people, Ghana is currently operating at approximately 1 ambulance to every 95,000 people.
Despite these challenges, the CEO proudly disclosed that the National Ambulance Service still responds to an average of 750 emergency cases every week across the country, demonstrating the resilience, dedication, and professionalism of NAS personnel.
Addressing recent public discussions surrounding the unfortunate death of Mr. Charles Amissah, Dr. Owusu clarified that NAS personnel remained with the patient for nearly 118 minutes, diligently executing their legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities throughout the emergency response process.
He encouraged staff and emergency medical personnel not to allow negative narratives to demoralize them, stressing that ambulance professionals are senior healthcare workers whose contributions remain critical to national healthcare delivery and emergency preparedness.
As part of the interaction, the Deputy Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) of NAS, Dr. Simon Nyaaba, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the overview, operations, achievements, and future direction of the National Ambulance Service.
The team from KNUST was led by Dr. Thomas Peprah Agyekum, a Lecturer of the School of Public Health and the engagement formed part of NAS’ broader commitment to public education, stakeholder collaboration, and strengthening confidence in Ghana’s emergency medical response system.
