The Ministry of Health has pushed back against claims that the committee investigating the alleged assault at Ridge Hospital was biased and failed to interview key witnesses.
The committee’s report concluded that while there was no physical assault, a verbal altercation occurred between the individual involved, Ralph St. Williams, and hospital staff.
The investigation also highlighted systemic issues, including severe staffing shortages, non-functional diagnostic equipment, and inadequate security in the Emergency Department. The nurse at the center of the controversy, Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, reported injuries, but medical records showed no fracture or dislocation.
The Greater Accra Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNM), Jefferson Asare, disputed the report, claiming the attending physician who diagnosed the nurse’s condition was not interviewed. However, Ministry spokesperson Tony Goodman refuted this:
“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 emphasized the committee’s thorough and inclusive process, focusing on strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system:
“This is an extensive work that has been done. We are not looking at who is at fault… We are looking at how best we can strengthen our system.”
The Ministry stands by the report’s findings and recommendations, aimed at addressing longstanding systemic weaknesses.
