In a revealing interview on Gumzang FM’s “Beogey Tengmaalug Sohug,” the Talensi District Ambulance Director, Mr. Amos Akuenge, laid bare the critical challenges facing emergency medical services in the district.
Despite being a hub for mining activity and prone to road traffic accidents, the district has been operating without its primary ambulance for over half a decade, relying instead on overstretched resources from Bolgatanga.
For nearly five years, the only ambulance assigned to the Talensi District has been out of commission. According to Mr. Akuenge, the issue is purely mechanical, yet it has remained unresolved for a staggering amount of time.
“The only appliance that we are having is grounded for over four to five years now… The issue of the ambulance has to do with its engine. If we get a new engine, we are good to go.”
Currently, the district’s emergency response depends entirely on the availability of vehicles in Bolgatanga. This logistical bottleneck creates dangerous delays for patients in critical condition. Calls go to the dispatch center, which then has to coordinate with the Bolga station. Time is lost in transit.
Mr. Akuenge noted that having a local, functional ambulance would mean getting a patient to a doctor “within an hour or some minutes.”
Talensi residents must wait for a vehicle to travel from another district before their journey to the hospital even begins.
The lack of a local ambulance is particularly concerning given the types of emergencies the district faces daily. Mr. Akuenge highlighted three major areas of concern:
Frequent incidents in the local mining zones.
High-impact crashes requiring immediate stabilization at the Talensi District Hospital.
Critical transfers for expectant mothers.
Mr. Akuenge confirmed that the District Chief Executive (DCE) is aware of the situation and has provided assurances. The DCE reportedly plans to travel to the National Headquarters this year to finalize a solution.
However, the Director believes the responsibility should be shared among all major players in the region. He is called on institutions in the district support the efforts of the ambulance service to strive.
“I really think institutions in the district should really put up all the necessary efforts to make sure that the district ambulance is worked on,” Akuenge stated.