A committee tasked with investigating the alleged assault of a nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) has presented its findings to the Minister of Health, Mr Mintah Akandoh, revealing shortcomings in security, staffing, and emergency care infrastructure.
At a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the Committee chairman, Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, disclosed that medical records showed no signs of fracture or bone dislocation in the case of Ms. Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, the nurse who reported the incident. Her injuries were reported a day after the alleged assault. She received pain medication, was placed on bed rest, and was given psychological support.
Key Findings
Security
- The emergency unit had only one private security officer per 12-hour shift, which was deemed highly inadequate given the heavy foot traffic.
- The hospital’s police post is located far from the emergency department, forcing reliance on external support from the Adenta Police Command during emergencies.
Staffing
- In August, the emergency department operated with just one doctor per shift and one specialist per day.
- Although seven doctors and two specialists were assigned to the unit, only one specialist was present at a time.
- Out of 88 nurses posted to the department, only 54 were actively at post; the remaining 34 were absent due to various reasons.
Equipment
- Essential imaging equipment, including X-ray, CT scan, and MRI machines, were all non-functional.
- These equipment failures caused delays in diagnosis and led to external referrals, affecting patient care.
Committee Recommendations
To address these challenges, the committee proposed the following:
- Increase the number of security personnel and ensure a consistent police presence at the emergency department, particularly at night and on weekends.
- Expand CCTV surveillance across key clinical areas.
- Recruit additional doctors, nurses, and client service officers to support emergency operations.
- Repair and upgrade diagnostic equipment as a priority.
- Establish new secondary-level hospitals within the Greater Accra Region to ease the patient load on Ridge Hospital.
- Intensify public education on the scope and limitations of emergency services to help reduce tensions and misunderstandings.
Dr. Ofori-Boadu emphasized that implementing these measures would enhance emergency care delivery, reduce future incidents, and help restore public confidence in the health system.
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No fracture, no dislocation – Committee report on Ridge Hospital nurse assault case
2 Responses
When I hear that equipment is not functioning, I believe the government should prioritize biomedical engineers to ensure that no hospital operates without them. However, in Ghana, biomedical engineers are often taken for granted.
Good work done. I want to report that some doctors at the hospital are using the Ridge Hospital facilities to charge exorbitant fees to the detriment of lay down procedures by government. I am prepared to avail myself when called upon. Thanks.