Ambulances are not just vehicles; they are critical pieces of medical equipment that play a vital role in saving lives. However, recent revelations have brought to light the questionable practices surrounding the maintenance contracts of these life-saving vehicles in Ghana.
According to Kwame Sarpong Asiedu, a Research Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), there is a lot more rot in the ambulance maintenance contract than has been publicly exposed. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Asiedu highlighted the importance of service contracts for medical equipment to ensure they remain under warranty.
He pointed out that without a service contract, suppliers may refuse to sell or offer equipment without warranty protection. This raises concerns about the maintenance of ambulances in Ghana, especially when considering the poor maintenance culture in the country.
It was revealed that as of 2019, there was no service contract for the ambulances, prompting questions about why the maintenance contract was awarded to a company without a proven track record. Asiedu questioned whether the company had the necessary skills and resources to properly maintain the specialized medical equipment.
Furthermore, Asiedu emphasized that ambulances should not be treated like regular vehicles that only require basic maintenance. These vehicles require specialized care and calibration that should be done by trained professionals.
The lack of a proper maintenance contract for the ambulances raises concerns about the warranty and the overall quality of care these critical medical equipment receive. As Asiedu aptly stated, “There is possibly a lot more rot in this story than we actually see.”
