The Ghana Health Service (GHS) and President John Dramani Mahama have moved to correct widespread misinformation circulating on social media, clarifying that the tricycles being deployed under the Free Primary Healthcare initiative are not ambulances but rather transport solutions designed to support community health workers in reaching remote villages.
In a press release issued on Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Ghana Health Service categorically rejected viral videos falsely portraying the tricycles as hospital ambulances, describing such claims as “false and misleading.”
“These FPHC tricycles are not ambulances and have not been procured to be used as such. It needs to be emphasised that for some years now, the Service has a record of successfully deploying such tricycles for outreach services,” the statement, signed by Director-General Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, read.
President Mahama weighs in
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony on Saturday, President Mahama also addressed the public misconceptions, stressing that the tricycles are designed to enhance service delivery at the community level, not to serve as emergency response vehicles.
“There are more than 6,000 CHPS compounds in Ghana. Among the equipment we presented were motorcycles and tricycles. Let me be clear, those tricycles are not ambulances,” he stated.
The President explained that the tricycles are meant to enable health workers and volunteers to travel between communities to conduct screenings and deliver essential healthcare services, particularly in areas where mobility remains a challenge.
He further outlined that the tricycles are equipped with dedicated compartments to safely store vaccines, allowing health personnel to maintain cold-chain requirements while carrying out immunisation and outreach programmes.
“And so at the back of the tricycle they have a compartment where they can keep vaccines… to keep the vaccines cool,” he added.
Tailored to regional needs
President Mahama noted that the distribution of motorcycles and tricycles is tailored to regional needs, with motorcycles deployed in areas where health workers are able to ride them, particularly in northern Ghana.
“So in the southern parts, where the health workers cannot ride motorcycles, they’ll be given tricycles to go from village to village to do their work,” he added.
Reiterating his point, the President urged the public to avoid misinterpretations, noting that the vehicles are strictly for preventive healthcare delivery, including screenings for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
“They are vehicles for the health workers… to go to the village, deliver vaccinations and also do health screening,” he said.
Strategic intervention for last-mile delivery
The Ghana Health Service, in its statement, explained that the deployment of tricycles and motorbikes is part of a strategic intervention designed to enhance last-mile service delivery, especially in rural, peri-urban, and hard-to-reach communities.
The initiative aims to ensure equitable access to quality primary health care for all Ghanaians, in line with the Service’s commitment.
Unlike motorbikes, the tricycles are fitted with dedicated cargo compartments that enable health workers to transport essential medical supplies, vaccines, cold chain equipment, diagnostic tools, and health education materials needed for integrated outreach activities and home visits.
Safety and inclusivity
The GHS highlighted that tricycles enhance safety and stability in difficult terrains and are user-friendly for a broader range of health workers, including female Community Health Nurses, thereby promoting a more inclusive, responsive, and protective work environment during extreme weather conditions such as rain and sun.
The Service urged the public to disregard any misinformation seeking to misrepresent the initiative, emphasising that the deployment of these transport resources underscores the Government’s continuous effort to bring quality primary health care closer to every Ghanaian, especially those in underserved communities.
Programme rollout
The Free Primary Healthcare initiative, launched this month, is expected to begin in 150 districts in its first phase, as part of efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare and expand access to universal health coverage.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
