Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman, has firmly rejected claims that the committee investigating the alleged assault at Ridge Hospital conducted a biased probe.
As a member of the investigative team, Goodman stressed that every relevant medical and administrative voice was heard, including the doctor accused of being excluded from the process. Goodman explained that the committee’s report, submitted to Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, did not find evidence of physical assault on Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, the nurse at the center of the case.
Instead, the panel concluded that the incident amounted to a verbal confrontation between Ralph St. Williams, popularly known as Ralph De Fellow Ghanaian, and hospital staff. Responding to accusations of bias by the Greater Accra Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Jefferson Asare, Goodman insisted the process had been fair and comprehensive.
“That is not correct. We have spoken with everybody, including the doctor who saw the lady. He is a specialist, and this committee’s work cannot be rubbished,” Goodman said, rejecting suggestions that the physician’s absence undermined the credibility of the findings.
He added that the objective of the inquiry was not to apportion blame but to identify systemic challenges that continue to hamper health delivery at Ridge Hospital and other facilities. “This is an extensive work that has been done,” he explained.
According to Goodman, medical records reviewed by the committee showed no fracture or dislocation as initially suggested in some reports by the nurse and the GRNMA. Instead, the nurse was treated with pain medication, rest, and psychological support after presenting with discomfort in her left hand a day after the alleged attack.
“No physical attacks were observed – only verbal altercations,” Goodman clarified, citing video evidence as a crucial factor in the panel’s conclusion. He acknowledged that while Bortei had complained of injuries, there was no corroboration from staff on duty that evening, nor medical confirmation of a dislocation.
“Although we cannot confirm a physical assault, we also cannot say the nurse was lying,” he noted, emphasising that the committee’s role was to weigh evidence rather than speculate.
Systemic Weaknesses Exposed
The committee’s work also shed light on broader institutional challenges at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
Severe staffing shortages, non-functional diagnostic equipment, and inadequate security were highlighted as persistent weaknesses. Goodman argued that these findings underscored the need for reforms beyond the controversy over the alleged assault.
He explained that recommendations presented to the Minister covered measures to expand staff numbers, restore diagnostic infrastructure, and improve security at the emergency department.
“Only the nurse can explain why the additional results contradict her physical assault claims,” Goodman added, drawing attention to discrepancies between her account and medical documentation.
The Ridge Hospital incident, which attracted national attention after a viral video showed patient relatives clashing with hospital staff, continues to reverberate outside the Ministry’s corridors. Bortei has since filed a civil suit against Ralph St. Williams, seeking GHS 7 million in damages for alleged assault and defamation.
Goodman maintained, however, that the committee’s remit was distinct from the court proceedings. He reiterated that the Ministry of Health remained committed to protecting healthcare workers while addressing longstanding weaknesses in public facilities.
“We spoke to all staff on duty the day of the incident, including Ralph,” he said, pointing to the depth of the evidence-gathering process. For Goodman, the Ridge Hospital probe represents not only a test of institutional accountability but also a reminder of the fragile environment in which frontline healthcare workers operate.
While the investigation found no evidence of physical assault, its revelations about understaffing, faulty equipment, and inadequate security speak to wider challenges in Ghana’s health system.
He underscored that the work of the investigative committee should be seen as part of a reform process, not a dismissal of legitimate concerns raised by nurses and other health professionals. By reinforcing security and investing in infrastructure, the Ministry hopes to reduce the risk of similar controversies in the future.
As the lawsuit proceeds, public attention is likely to remain fixed on Ridge Hospital. But for Tony Goodman, the focus must stay on systemic reform rather than prolonged disputes over contested claims.
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