The misconception held by the public about the mandate of the National Ambulance Service in transporting dead bodies has been clarified by the emergency medical service.

Speaking during an appearance on Citi’s Breakfast Daily on Friday, February 20, the Greater Accra Regional Manager of the National Ambulance Service, Daniel Asare, emphasised that his outfit’s role is strictly to transport the sick and injured, not deceased individuals.

His remarks follow widely held misconceptions about their role, noting that people call them to offer hearse services instead of emergency medical services. According to him, if the Ambulance Service takes over the role of transporting dead bodies, the public will lose trust in it.

“If we use ambulances to carry the dead, the public will lose trust in using the service,” he said.

He went on to further explain that the service operates two streams: emergency and non-emergency. For genuine emergencies, ambulances are fully funded by the government through the National Petroleum Authority and GOIL, so no fees are charged to patients. For non-emergency cases, small fees are applied to support operations, but patients without funds are still transported.

He further raised concern over a surge in prank emergency calls, revealing that the service receives approximately 5,000 false alerts each month. These unnecessary calls, he warned, strain resources and delay responses to genuine emergencies.

Mr Asare also called on the government to retool the service and provide more ambulances, emphasising that strengthened infrastructure and public awareness are key to maintaining trust and efficiency in emergency response.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health officially inaugurated the Governing Boards and Councils of six critical health institutions in early July 2026.

These are the National Blood Service, National Ambulance Service, Mental Health Authority, Ghana College of Pharmacists, Allied Health Professions Council, and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council.

At the ceremony held this week, the ministry announced the appointment of the following distinguished individuals as chairpersons for the respective Boards and Councils: National Blood Service Board – Dr. Emmanuel Maurice Ankrah, Mental Health Authority Board – Dr. Dan Bazanndut, Ghana College of Pharmacists Council – Prof. Francis Ackah Armah, Allied Health Professions Council – Prof. Eric Kotei Addison, Traditional Medicine Practice Council – Prof. Ato Duncan.

Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, expressed confidence that their leadership would help advance the mandates of their respective agencies, adding that each Chairperson brings a wealth of experience and expertise to their role.

In his keynote address, the Health Minister emphasised the need for stronger oversight, enhanced professionalism, and improved inter-agency coordination.

Government key priorities include addressing Ghana’s annual blood supply deficit of 120,000 units and closing the treatment gap for over 2.3 million Ghanaians living with mental health conditions.

Honourable Akandoh also highlighted the need to regulate the traditional medicine sector, which serves more than 60% of the population, as well as tackling the shortage of pharmacists and allied health professionals.

The Minister called on the newly inaugurated Boards to lead transformative reforms, promote specialisation, and elevate standards across the health sector.

The Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr Desmond Boateng, welcomed the new members and encouraged them to provide bold and visionary leadership. He urged them to work collaboratively to drive innovation and improve service delivery.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s full support, noting that effective regulation is about saving lives, building public trust, and delivering tangible results.

The Ministry of Health indicated that it remains committed to providing the necessary policy direction, coordination, and resources to empower the new Boards and Councils.

The leadership of these Boards are encouraged to prioritise data-driven decision-making, foster inter-agency synergy, and uphold the health and dignity of every Ghanaian.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Ministry of Health Auditorium, brought together dignitaries, senior government officials, health sector stakeholders, and the newly appointed Board and Council members.