Refurbished emergency dispatch centre in Ho handed over to Ghana National Ambulance Service

The Hunger Project–Ghana, in partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has handed over a refurbished Emergency Dispatch Centre to the Ghana National Ambulance Service in Ho, Volta Region. The 24-hour facility is equipped with emergency mapping, digital monitoring and communication systems to support emergency response, ambulance deployment and coordination with health facilities.

It will also serve administrative purposes, contributing to the improvement of emergency services and ensuring timely access to basic, quality healthcare in the region to avert mortality. The dispatch centre is furnished with staff accommodation to house personnel and help ensure round-the-clock operations and response. The initiative falls under the Holistic Opportunities for Positive Engagement in Maternal and Child Health (HOPE-MCH) Project, which aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes by strengthening healthcare systems and access to essential health services.

This follows similar work at the Eastern Regional Emergency Dispatch Centre in Koforidua in 2025, as well as the handover of five mini-modified tricycle ambulances to improve access to emergency medical services in the region. The Country Leader of The Hunger Project–Ghana, Mrs Agatha Quayson, said the provision of the facility aligns with the organisation’s objectives of enhancing maternal and child health and eradicating maternal deaths.

Mrs Quayson expressed optimism that the upgraded facility would provide a more conducive working environment for personnel. She also expressed appreciation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the National Ambulance Service and the Volta Regional Health Directorate for their partnership in the initiative. “For a mother experiencing complications during childbirth or a child in need of urgent medical attention, a timely ambulance response can make a critical difference in accessing the care they need,” she said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service, Dr (Med.) George Kojo Owusu, welcomed the initiative, highlighting the facility’s role in emergency healthcare delivery. He added that the facility would complement initiatives to be implemented to enhance services amid limited logistics. These include restoring grounded ambulances to service, improving hospital bed management and plans to procure additional ambulances in 2027.

“An Emergency Dispatch Centre is a critical link between people in distress and the emergency medical assistance they need. This renovated facility will support the coordination of ambulance services and our efforts to ensure timely access to emergency care for mothers, children and other patients,” he said. The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, commended The Hunger Project–Ghana and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their support, noting that the upgraded facility would strengthen emergency healthcare delivery.

“Emergency medical services are critical to saving lives. This facility will enhance the coordination of ambulance operations, improve emergency response and support our personnel in providing efficient pre-hospital care to people across the Volta Region,” he said. He hinted at a zero-tolerance policy on unapproved speed ramps, citing their contribution to delays in emergency services.

Togbe Kasa III of the Asogli State, who chaired the ceremony, emphasised in his remarks the need for proper maintenance of the facility, as well as adequate equipment, to ensure the refurbishment achieves its intended impact. The Hunger Project–Ghana continues to work with partners to strengthen maternal and child healthcare systems and improve access to essential emergency services in underserved communities.

About The Hunger Project The Hunger Project is a global non-profit on a mission to facilitate individual and collective action to transform the systems of inequity that create hunger and cause it to persist. The Hunger Project is active in 23 countries, with global headquarters based in New York. Since 1996, The Hunger Project–Ghana has partnered with more than 545 communities across Ghana, advancing community-led development across key areas, including agriculture and food security, maternal and child health, youth development, women’s economic participation, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Through its community-led approach, the organisation works to build self-reliance and drive lasting change.