The Deputy Minister for Health, Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has outlined measures to address Ghana’s persistent “no bed syndrome,” promising comprehensive reforms in emergency healthcare delivery and hospital infrastructure nationwide.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, February 24, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah said the government is taking decisive steps to strengthen patient care across all levels of the health system — from Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and health centres to major referral facilities.
She emphasised that the reforms will involve retraining emergency personnel, upgrading critical medical equipment, and enhancing the operations of the national ambulance service.
“We are retraining our emergency services staff. We are training the doctors and the staff. We are training the security personnel in the emergency rooms. We are even extending this into the ambulance service itself,” Dr. Ayensu-Danquah said.
She further assured Parliament that ambulances nationwide will be adequately resourced to support life-saving interventions.
“This patient could have probably been saved if we had the proper supplies in the ambulance. We are working diligently to prevent needless deaths of any Ghanaian,” she added, offering condolences to the family of the late Charles Amissah.
The remarks follow the tragic death of 29-year-old Charles Amissah, an engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited, who passed away on February 6 after a hit-and-run accident at the Circle Overpass in Accra.
Reports indicate that he was allegedly turned away by three major health facilities — the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital — reportedly due to a lack of available beds. Emergency responders provided first aid at the scene and during transit, but delays and repeated refusals reportedly worsened his condition. He later suffered cardiac arrest at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and was pronounced dead.
In response, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital management has interdicted two doctors and two nurses pending a full-scale investigation into the emergency care provided. A committee has been set up to probe the circumstances surrounding the case, with hospital authorities calling for full cooperation to ensure a transparent and thorough inquiry.
