Ghana: CRS, LDS Fund National Ambulance Service Facility Renovation

• Catholic Relief Services (CRS), funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), handed over six renovated National Ambulance Service (NAS) facilities in northern Ghana.
• The facilities are located across the Upper East, North East, Northern, and Savannah Regions, aiming to strengthen emergency referral and transport services.
• This initiative is part of the three-year Holistic Opportunities for Positive Engagement in Maternal and Child Health (HOPE-MCH) Project.
• CRS also provided 40 Modified Motor-Tricycle Ambulances and 10 motorcycles to NAS to improve emergency response in hard-to-reach communities.
• Officials emphasized that these upgrades will enhance NAS operations, improve coordination, and ensure timely access to lifesaving care, especially for mothers, newborns, and children.

Every minute matters when a mother, newborn, or child needs urgent medical attention.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), supported by funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), officially transferred six newly renovated and expanded facilities to Ghana's National Ambulance Service (NAS). This significant initiative aims to bolster emergency referral and transport capabilities across northern Ghana, enhancing the region's ability to provide critical care. The handover ceremony, which marked a key milestone in public health infrastructure development, took place on October 9, 2026.

These upgraded facilities are strategically located across several key areas. They include sites in the Talensi and Nabdam Districts within the Upper East Region, the Mamprugu Moagduri District in the North East Region, and the Yendi and Nanumba North Municipalities in the Northern Region. Additionally, the Central Gonja District in the Savannah Region also benefited from these essential infrastructure improvements, ensuring a wider geographical reach for enhanced emergency services.

The renovation of these National Ambulance Service Ghana facilities forms an integral component of the three-year Holistic Opportunities for Positive Engagement in Maternal and Child Health (HOPE-MCH) Project. This comprehensive initiative is dedicated to improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes throughout Ghana by strengthening support systems at multiple levels, encompassing families, communities, health facilities, and the overarching health system. The Catholic Relief Services Ghana health project underscores a commitment to holistic public health partnerships.

Beyond the structural upgrades, CRS has also made substantial contributions to Ghana emergency medical services infrastructure as part of the wider HOPE-MCH intervention. This includes the provision of 40 Modified Motor-Tricycle Ambulances and 10 motorcycles to the National Ambulance Service. These additional resources are specifically designed to improve emergency response in hard-to-reach communities, complementing the newly renovated facilities and ensuring that critical care can access even the most remote populations.

During the handover ceremony in the Talensi district, Adam Haliq, Health Program Manager at CRS Ghana, speaking on behalf of the CRS Country Representative, highlighted the critical importance of strengthening emergency response systems. He emphasized that timely access to lifesaving care is paramount, stating that "Every minute matters when a mother, newborn, or child needs urgent medical attention." Haliq further explained that the HOPE-MCH Project Ghana is actively reinforcing the systems that link individuals to vital medical attention, particularly in areas where geographical distance and challenging terrain can significantly impede access to prompt care.

John Millim Naabwomya, the Talensi District Chief Executive, characterized the renovation of the local National Ambulance Service Office as far more than a mere physical upgrade. He stressed the indispensable role of collaboration among various institutions and development partners in achieving sustainable progress. Naabwomya recounted that the district's ambulance had been out of service for an extended period, and it was under his leadership that resources were successfully mobilized to acquire an engine and other necessary parts for its repair, returning it to active duty. He affirmed that "Sustainable development is achieved when institutions and partners work together around a common purpose," underscoring the power of Ghana public health partnerships.

Dr. Simon Akayire Nyaaba, Deputy Director for Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the National Ambulance Service, expressed profound gratitude to both CRS and LDS for their invaluable support. He acknowledged that these improved offices, alongside the emergency vehicles and dispatch systems provided under the project, will significantly fortify the operational foundation of the National Ambulance Service. These National Ambulance Service Ghana upgrades are expected to empower personnel to coordinate more effectively and respond with greater efficiency to communities requiring emergency care.

The collective impact of the Ghana National Ambulance Service facility renovation CRS LDS initiative is anticipated to substantially enhance the capacity of the National Ambulance Service to deliver timely emergency referral and transport services. This is particularly crucial for vulnerable populations, including women and newborns, ensuring they receive prompt medical attention when every second counts. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ghana aid has been instrumental in realizing these vital improvements, contributing directly to better health outcomes.

This article reports on a completed humanitarian aid project to improve public health infrastructure in Ghana. It does not present any direct actionable legal implications for lawyers or compliance officers, such as new regulations, compliance exposures, or precedents to monitor.

Source: Original reporting on a Ghana health project via Carbonatix.