The investigative committee established by the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has ruled out claims that a nurse at Ridge Hospital suffered a shoulder dislocation during an alleged assault earlier this month.
Presenting its findings, the committee confirmed that medical records showed no fractures or dislocations despite earlier reports that sparked public outrage and concern for staff safety.
The committee, chaired by Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, presented its findings to the Health Minister upon completion. According to the report, the victim, Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, a rotation nurse, only reported her injury a day after the incident on August 18, after which she received treatment.
“There was no evidence of fracture on her left wrist or dislocation of her right shoulder joint as documented by the medical records,” the committee stated. She was, however, provided pain relief, recommended for bed rest, and placed under psychological support care following the ordeal.
The findings sharply contradicted earlier claims that the nurse had sustained a dislocation during the confrontation involving relatives of a patient and Ridge Hospital staff. The Health Ministry noted that the clarification was necessary following the circulation of videos of the altercation, which had fuelled nationwide concern.
Key Findings
The committee’s report also clarified that there was no delay in providing care to the patient whose condition triggered the altercation.
It explained that while diagnostic imaging equipment at the emergency department – including the X-ray, CT scan, and MRI machines – were all non-functional, treatment began promptly and tests were conducted outside the facility.
Video footage reviewed by the committee confirmed a heated verbal exchange between Ralph St. Williams, also known as Ralph De Fellow Ghanaian, and hospital staff. However, the committee found no evidence of physical assault captured in the available recordings or corroborated by eyewitnesses.
On staffing, the report painted a picture of severe shortages at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. At the time of the incident, only one medical officer was assigned to each shift at the emergency department. Out of 88 nursing staff expected to work in August, only 54 were available, with 34 having vacated their posts without replacement.
The report also concluded that security presence at the emergency department was “grossly inadequate.” Only one private security officer was assigned to each 12-hour shift.
Although a police post exists on the hospital premises, its location far from the emergency unit meant slow response times during incidents.
Beyond the committee’s findings, the incident has already escalated into legal action. Nurse Rejoice Tsotso Bortei has filed a civil suit against Ralph St. Williams, seeking GHS 7 million in damages for alleged physical assault and defamation.
The case has drawn national attention, especially with the viral spread of videos from the hospital’s emergency ward.
St. Williams, in a written response to the committee, denied assaulting any staff. He admitted being provoked by comments made by a nurse and explained that his livestream was intended to highlight what he perceived as delays, not to target health professionals.
Recommendations of the Committee
The committee outlined a set of recommendations spanning security, staffing, equipment, and broader health system reforms. Among the key proposals were:
Increasing security personnel at the Emergency Department and ambulance areas, supported by police presence during weekends and night shifts.
Expanding CCTV surveillance around the Emergency Department to enhance monitoring.
Recruiting more clinical staff for Ridge Hospital’s emergency care, alongside additional administrative managers to serve as client service officers.
Repairing or replacing the hospital’s non-functional imaging equipment to prevent further treatment delays.
Strengthening the health system nationwide by building human resource capacity for emergency care, increasing secondary-level facilities, and ensuring access to diagnostic equipment.
The committee also recommended continuous public education about the role of emergency departments, and stricter adherence by health professionals to emergency care protocols.
Health Minister Responds
Receiving the report, Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh disclosed that some of the committee’s recommendations had already been initiated during his earlier visit to Ridge Hospital.
“From here, I am just going to give instructions for some of these things to be done. In fact, the truth of the matter is that the very day we visited the hospital, I gave that instruction that they should look at the internal security”
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Health Minister
He stressed that improving security at Ridge Hospital’s emergency department remained a top priority, assuring that the government would act swiftly to protect frontline health workers.
The Ridge Hospital incident has reopened national debates on the safety of health workers, hospital infrastructure, and staffing levels in public facilities.
The Ministry of Health said it will continue monitoring the situation to ensure that both staff and patients at Ridge Hospital receive the protection and care they deserve.
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