EMTs are professionally trained — NAS rejects Prof. Akosa’s claim

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has strongly rejected claims that its Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are poorly trained.

This follows comments by Prof. Agyeman-Badu Akosa, Chairman of a committee set up by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to investigate the death of 29-year-old Charles Amissah. In an interview on The Point of View on Channel One TV, Prof. Akosa described EMTs as “poorly trained” and suggested that inadequate training may have contributed to the patient’s death.

However, management of the NAS has dismissed the remarks, describing them as “sweeping, unfortunate, and capable of undermining public trust and confidence in a critical public health institution that has consistently served the people of Ghana with professionalism and dedication for over two decades.”

While acknowledging the work of the investigative committee, the Service stressed that it “respectfully but firmly rejects this unfortunate assertion.”

The statement issued on Friday, May 22, 2026, detailed the training standards of EMTs, insisting that personnel are adequately prepared through structured professional programmes.

“Emergency Medical Technicians of the National Ambulance Service are adequately and professionally trained by qualified Medical Doctors, Emergency Physicians, Paramedics, Nurse Specialists, and other experienced healthcare professionals,” it said.

It added that EMTs undergo “rigorous theoretical and practical training and are duly certified to practice within the approved scope of their profession.”

The Service also pointed to its operational record over the past two decades, noting its role in responding to emergencies nationwide.

“For over two decades, the National Ambulance Service has been providing professional pre-hospital emergency medical services across the country, responding to thousands of medical emergencies, road traffic accidents, disasters, and inter-facility transfers with competence and professionalism,” it said.

Management further emphasised ongoing efforts to strengthen capacity, including continuous training and institutional reforms aimed at improving emergency care delivery.

The Service reiterated that it “categorically rejects the assertion that EMTs of the National Ambulance Service are poorly trained,” adding that the dedication of its personnel “continues to save lives daily and deserves commendation rather than generalised disparagement.”

Source: citinewsroom.com