“Our greatest danger is losing power, not citizens dying for not being transported to health centres in good time. And, don’t forget, we need power first to keep them alive” Tabita, Chairman of the ruling Power First Party (PFP) said through gritted teeth. “Election is warfare, and in every war, there are unavoidable casualties.” He added, adjusting his spectacles.
A grim line of smile flashed across the face of Kennedy, the Party’s General Secretary, as he added: “Of course, we cannot save everyone but we can save ourselves. A few people must die if necessary, to save the rest. That’s an inevitable sacrifice. Power first!”
Almost all politicians across the world promise something for votes. From tax cuts through increasing pensions or social welfare, there is an endless stock of promises to select to entice voters. Quite often, credulous voters fail to critically analyze electoral promises to realize they were mere castles in the air and had very little or no chance of ever being fulfilled. Once those seeking political power get what they want, there is very little the electorate could do except to wait for the next election to punish disappointing politicians. But failing or refusing to renew the mandate of mediocre politicians is not an easy project to undertake unless voters unite overwhelmingly in their resolve to do so. Chinua Achebe in his seminal work, “Things Fall Apart” illustrates this situation fittingly in the quote “Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching”. Fine
Ghanaian politicians have not only mastered the sophisticated art of sophistry and finesse in promising for votes, they have also perfected the act of explaining their inefficiencies and inability to deliver on their promises in such a way that voters are left with no option but to consider giving them another chance to honour such promises. In the 2016 elections, several promises were merchandized and in the end, more voters chose to purchase promises of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over those of the other political parties, prominent among them being the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which was then in power. A key assurance the NPP offered was to provide all 275 constituencies across the country with ambulances.
Ambulances offer some protection against danger, an ever-present phenomenon in nature against which humans and animals alike seek protection. Danger comes from various sources in many shapes and form. From the physical through emotional, danger threatens humans’ quality of life on various fronts. Self-preservation, regarded as the most basic natural instinct enables humans and animals to escape or fight danger whenever it occurs. In human circles, structures and technologies have been developed to enhance security. One of such security measures against danger finds expression in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), otherwise referred to as ambulance services involves the treatment of illnesses and injuries that require immediate medical response, out-of-hospital treatment and transport, among other things. [Edit 1]
Procuring more ambulances would boost the country’s emergency healthcare system in particular as well as Sustainable Development Goals three in general, which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. Ghana’s ambulance service was in very dire straits with its fleet of vans depleted leaving only 50 ambulances to serve 30 million citizens across the entire country.
Many citizens heaved a sigh of relief at the promise of three hundred and seven more ambulances for all constituencies across the country. A subsequent announcement of timelines to distribute the ambulances threw citizens into more jubilation with many believing the declaration was borne out of goodwill and a genuine feeling for humanity.
Alas, these timelines elapsed without fulfillment of the promise. Jejune and flimsy reasons were given for shifting the dates, the most unfortunate of them being the President’s statement that he was waiting to get a full complement of the vans before distribution so he doesn’t get criticized for bias. So, the first set of ambulances that arrived in the country were parked, while helpless citizens continued being transported to health centres in tricycles if they are lucky not die. This was when the realization dawned on many that the promise was just one of the numerous vote-grabbing political gimmicks employed by self-serving politicians to achieve parochial ends.
Finally, on January 28, 2020, three hundred and seven (307) ambulances promised were commissioned and distributed to various constituencies across the country after an elaborate ceremony laced with purple speeches and political antics.
Two days after the national distribution, on January 30, the Volta regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa organized his own brand of commissioning of the ambulances at the Volta regional capital, Ho. Criticized for lacking a sense of urgency, a critical factor in emergency care, the minister lashed out at his critics saying: “…anyone who criticises this has a problem and needs deliverance.”
The fundamental question is: “who really needs deliverance? Is it a medical doctor-turned-politician who chooses to sacrifice the urgency factor in emergency healthcare delivery system on the altar of political expediency, or helpless citizens who demand that facilities procured by the proceeds of their sweat be used judiciously for their benefit?”