Former Minister of Health Bernard Okoe Boye has called for restraint in public discussions surrounding the investigative report into the death of engineer Charles Amissah, cautioning against drawing premature conclusions before the full contents of the report are thoroughly examined.
According to Dr Okoe Boye, findings from sensitive investigations must be handled carefully to ensure fairness to all individuals implicated in the matter.
He warned against making definitive judgments based solely on portions of the report that have circulated publicly, stressing that such discussions could have serious professional and reputational consequences for those named.
The former minister argued that a balanced and measured approach is essential, particularly in cases involving public institutions and healthcare professionals.
He noted that in many countries, complete investigative reports together with supporting evidence are usually made available to provide context before conclusions are reached or sanctions imposed.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Thursday, May 7, Dr Okoe Boye described the committee’s findings as a preliminary assessment rather than a final determination of culpability.
“You should have an issue when you have a committee that is speaking to the whole country making categorical statements for individuals when we’ve not read the report to see the comments they made,” he stated.
He also expressed confidence that institutions and professional bodies responsible for handling the matter would follow due process before taking disciplinary action.
“I give them credit but I take their work as a prima facie establishment where on the surface of it these guys are wrong,” he said, adding that disciplinary authorities would not punish individuals without proper review and evaluation.
His comments come amid concerns raised by the Ghana Medical Association over the public naming of doctors and healthcare workers in the report.
The Association has warned that some of the individuals implicated are facing online harassment, threats and hostile public reactions following the release of the committee’s findings.
The controversy follows the publication of an investigative report which linked the death of Charles Amissah to alleged lapses in emergency medical care at several health facilities, including the Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
