The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has donated two new boats to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to improve healthcare accessibility in 28 remote communities across Ghana’s Western Region.
The 12-seater “Western Princess GHS6” and 8-seater “Western Express GHS5” are set to serve an estimated 7,500 people, particularly in the Jomoro District.
During the handover ceremony, USAID/Ghana Mission Director Kimberly Rosen emphasized the United States’ dedication to ensuring healthcare reaches even the most remote areas.
“The United States is proud to partner with the Ghana Health Service to bring health services to remote communities.
The boats will improve medical outreach, providing immunizations, maternal and childcare, malaria, nutrition, and other health services to you—the people of Jomoro,” she said.
Advanced navigation tools, medical storage
The two boats, manufactured locally in Ghana with reinforced fiberglass, are designed to meet the unique needs of healthcare outreach in the region.
The “Western Princess GHS6” features a washroom, storage cabin, and advanced navigation tools, making it suitable for outreach in the Jaway riverine communities.
The “Western Express GHS5” includes a stretcher for transporting patients and will be used in Nzulezu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is challenging to access by land.
“None of the communities along the lagoon have a health facility, and reaching them by road is nearly impossible,” said Gabriel Yengliereh, Jomoro District Director of Health Services.
“With these new boats, we can now bring critical health services directly to these remote communities.”
Over $90m in assistance in 2023
The United States remains Ghana’s largest development partner, with USAID contributing over $90 million to Ghana’s health sector in 2023 alone.
USAID’s funding initiatives focus on malaria prevention, maternal and child health, HIV, and global health security.
This latest donation follows a similar contribution in February when USAID provided a 19-seater boat to serve communities in the Oti Region.
The addition of the new boats in the Western Region is a critical step toward enhancing healthcare accessibility in Ghana’s hard-to-reach areas, underscoring USAID’s ongoing commitment to supporting healthcare improvements across the country.
