President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that tricycles being deployed under the free primary healthcare programme are intended to support health workers in outreach services, not to serve as ambulances.
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 18, the President addressed public misconceptions surrounding the initiative, stressing that the tricycles are designed to enhance service delivery at the community level.
“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.
He 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.
According to him, the vehicles are equipped with 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.
President Mahama further outlined 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.
The clarification comes amid ongoing discussions on social media regarding the purpose of the tricycles under the newly launched free primary healthcare initiative.
The programme, launched earlier 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.
