The Ghana Ambulance Service has refuted claims that one of its employee drivers was the man seen in a viral video carting cement bags to a construction site.
The video which since went viral, has attracted condemnations from the general public
But in a sharp response, the Service said the incident occurred on or around March 26, 2021 while the said vehicle was still in the custody of the suppliers, (Service Ghana Autogroup Ltd), adding that it was one of the mechanics from the supplier’s shop who took the car for a test drive on the day of the incident.
The statement also explained that the said vehicle with registration number GV -537-20, is not part of the National Ambulance Service fleet but rather still in the custody of Service Ghana Autogroup Ltd and therefore not being used by the paramedics of the National Ambulance Service.
Full statement below.
PRESS RELEASE
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has completed preliminary investigations into the the circumstances surrounding an incident in which an ambulance ostensibly belonging to the service is observed in a viral video carting cement bags.
Our investigation have revealed the following:
- The said vehicle with registration number GV -537-20, was one of the Ambulances awaiting the fixing of minor faults by the supplier before being received and integrated into the National Ambulance Service fleet.
- The incident occurred on or around March 26, 2021 while the said vehicle was in the custody of the suppliers; Service Ghana Autogroup Ltd.
- The said suppliers had caused the Ambulance to be sent to its garage to address a minor fault. The National Ambulance Service had earlier declined to take custody of the vehicle because of the said fault.
- A mechanic of the said garage (Nana Ofosu 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.
- The Ambulance is still in the custody of Service Ghana Autogroup Ltd and therefore not being used by the paramedics of the National Ambulance Service. It is thus not part of the National Ambulance Service fleet.
Signed
SIMMONS YUSSIF KEWURA
(Head, Public Relations)
