Leaking Roofs, Broken Furniture, and Sleepless Nights: The Deteriorating State of Nkonya Ambulance Station
The Nkonya Ambulance Station, a vital part of Ghana’s emergency medical network, is slowly collapsing, not in terms of service delivery, but in terms of the very infrastructure that supports it. Located in the Oti Region and managed by the Ghana National Ambulance Service, the station has become symbolic of broader systemic neglect.
Dedicated staff work tirelessly around the clock to save lives. But while they deliver critical emergency services, they do so in a crumbling building plagued by roof leaks, broken furniture, and a lack of support from the authorities.
Ambulance, Emergency Service Shouldn’t Operate Under These Conditions
Each time it rains, the nightmare begins. The roof leaks incessantly, flooding offices and forcing paramedics to spend the night mopping up water instead of resting between emergency calls. It's a crisis that’s been ongoing for years, despite numerous written complaints and follow-ups.
SAEMT Dogli Wilberforce, the Station Manager, expressed the frustration of the team:
We have consistently written letters, with follow-ups, to curb the situation for years now. But the reception from the main stakeholder who is supposed to help us, the District Assembly, has been bad.
The National Ambulance Service staff have felt increasingly neglected. In one instance, they visited the local assembly in search of help, only to be dismissed and even mocked.
One worker just said, ‘You have to come and lobby.’ Another one asked mockingly, ‘You, how can we help you? Dogli recalled. It is 2025, anybody who made you believe you have to lobby for health, security, and emergency needs is not an enemy but Satan.
Why the State of Ambulance, Emergency Service Infrastructure Matters
Inside the Nkonya Ambulance Station, the environment is disheartening. Chairs are falling apart, desks are worn, and basic office tools are inadequate. Yet despite these poor conditions, the paramedics’ dedication to their mission remains unwavering.
We ignore some of the things because we have one thing in mind, to save lives,” Dogli added.
The Ghana National Ambulance Service plays a critical role in emergency healthcare, especially in rural areas like Nkonya. But when frontline responders have to worry about where to sit, sleep, or work during rain, it sends a troubling message about misplaced priorities.
Emergency service personnel should not be forced to plead for the basic necessities required to function efficiently. These are the people who arrive first during accidents, medical crises, and disasters. Their working environment should reflect the gravity and value of the work they do.
Stakeholders Must Prioritize Ambulance, Emergency Service Support
The current condition of Nkonya Ambulance Station is not an isolated issue. It highlights a much larger systemic problem within regional healthcare support systems in Ghana.
Many ambulance stations, particularly in under-resourced districts, face worse conditions, some so bad you wouldn’t want to sleep there, let alone work a high-stress job involving split-second decisions and life-or-death consequences.
Joke with your liver and drink anyhow. Joke with your lungs and smoke anyhow. Don’t eat right. One day, your health will be the one lobbying for you. And no amount of NHIS or money will save you. Let’s do the right thing,” Dogli said poignantly.
To the district, municipal, and metropolitan assemblies that are already doing their part to support the National Ambulance Service, thank you. But for those who continue to ignore the needs of ambulance stations in their jurisdiction, it is time to act.
The people risking their lives to save others shouldn’t be forgotten or left to work in unsafe, undignified conditions. This is a national issue that affects every Ghanaian, whether in the Oti Region or elsewhere.
Final Call: This Is Bigger Than Just Nkonya
This story is not only about the Nkonya Ambulance Station or the Biakoye District. It’s a cry for attention from all corners of the Ghana National Ambulance Service, many of whose personnel endure even worse conditions in silence. It’s a plea on behalf of colleagues who work hard in dangerous, uncomfortable, and unsanitary environments.
This is a wake-up call to policymakers, local government bodies, and citizens alike. If we claim to care about healthcare and emergency response, then we must start by investing in the very infrastructure that supports it.
Ambulance Stations don’t need pity, they need action. Now!
