The Ghana National Ambulance Service has reacted to a video in circulation claiming one of the ambulances belonging to the service has been shipped to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for sale.
In a statement dated Monday, [May 29, 2023], the Ambulance Service explained that the vehicle in the video is part of 26 new vehicles the government was procuring from Dubai.
Debunking the claim in the audio accompanying the video that the vehicle had been sent from Ghana for sale in Dubai, the service said the vehicle is currently in the yard of the vehicle manufacturing company, which is preparing it for shipment into Ghana.
It is part of a total of 26 Toyota Hiace vehicles that the government through the Ministry of Health has purchased.
“The manufacturing processes are over and very soon the ambulances will be shipped into Ghana. We therefore entreat the general public to disregard the video in circulation and commentary made by the person who made the video,” the statement signed by Simmons Yussif Kewura, Deputy Director, Public Relations at the National Ambulance Service said.
Tiktok video
In a video shared on social media [Tiktok], two people, speaking the Twi language filmed the said vehicle parked in a yard among other vehicles in Dubai.
They claimed that they were in the yard to look for a vehicle to buy and came across the Toyota Hiace ambulance branded in Ghana National Ambulance Service colours.
The vehicle had the inscription, “National Ambulance Service,” with the Ghana Coat of Arms on it. It also had the writing, “Radiology Specialist Ambulance, Ministry of Health, Funded by World Bank.”
Below is a copy the statement issued by the service
FALSE CLAIM OF TOYOTA HIACE AMBULANCE BELONGING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA ON SALE IN DUBAI
29th May, 2023.It has come to the attention of the National Ambulance Service, a viral video circulating on social media, of an ambulance in Dubai belonging to the Government of Ghana, which is purported to being sold in that country.
We wish to state that;
1. The ambulance in question is one of the 26 Toyota Hiace Ambulances being procured by the Government, through the Ministry of Health and being funded by the World Bank.
2. The said ambulance is found on the premises of the Company, which is manufacturing the ambulances.
3. It is therefore not true that the ambulance is there for sale.
4. The manufacturing processes are over and very soon the ambulances will be shipped into Ghana.
5. We therefore entreat the general public to disregard the video in circulation and commentary made by the person who made the video.
Thank you.
SIGNED
MR. SIMMONS YUSSIF KEWURA DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONSSource: graphic.com.gh