The Ghana Health Service has dismissed social media claims that tricycles procured under the Free Primary Health Care initiative are ambulances for hospitals.
In a press release dated Wednesday, April 16, 2026, the GHS said viral videos circulating online have wrongly portrayed the tricycles as ambulances. The Service “categorically stated that these claims are false and misleading.”
The release, signed by Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General, clarified that the tricycles were procured for outreach services under Government’s Free Primary Health Care policy and have not been designated for use as ambulances.
According to the GHS, the tricycles and motorbikes are being deployed to strengthen delivery of essential health services at the community level, especially in rural, peri-urban, and hard-to-reach areas. The Service noted it has a record of successfully deploying such tricycles for outreach services for some years.
The GHS explained that the tricycles complement existing motorbike deployments within the Community-based Health Planning and Services system. Unlike motorbikes, the tricycles are fitted with dedicated cargo compartments to transport medical supplies, vaccines, cold chain equipment, diagnostic tools, and health education materials for integrated outreach and home visits.
The Service added that the tricycles offer better safety and stability in difficult terrains and are user-friendly for a broader range of health workers, including female Community Health Nurses, during extreme weather conditions.
The Ministry of Health and the GHS urged the public to disregard misinformation seeking to misrepresent the initiative. The deployment, the statement said, underscores Government’s effort to bring quality primary health care closer to every Ghanaian, especially those in underserved communities.
The Free Primary Health Care policy is a Government flagship programme aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality primary health care for all Ghanaians.
