The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has called for swift accountability following reports that a hit-and-run victim was allegedly denied admission at three major hospitals due to a lack of available beds.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, February 24, Mr. Ayariga described the incident as a painful reflection of persistent weaknesses in the country’s emergency healthcare system, noting that it has reignited public anger over recurring failures in emergency response.
“Speaker, I speak as somebody who was kept alive because the emergency ward of a hospital worked for me, and it must work for everybody, every citizen,” he said.
The Majority Leader questioned how an accident victim could reportedly be transported from one facility to another without receiving immediate medical attention.
“In some jurisdictions, there would have been public outrage… that an accident victim was moved from hospital to hospital, and the medical personnel there refused to treat it as an emergency,” he stated.
Describing the development as deeply troubling, he argued that such cases point to broader national concerns.
“It says everything about us as a country. The indiscipline, the disregard for human life, the lack of fellow feeling, that we don’t see that this is a fellow Ghanaian,” he said.
Mr. Ayariga stressed that Parliament cannot allow the matter to pass without decisive action.
“We must be outraged about a thing like this. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we must get to the bottom of matters like this,” he said.
Recalling a similar incident in 2018, he questioned whether any meaningful lessons had been learned or if those responsible had faced consequences.
“It happened in 2018. What happened? What did we do? How did those accountable fare at that time? This is what those who have done it today will be inspired by. They will talk, they will do nothing,” he warned.
He maintained that this time must yield a different outcome.
“We want to see action this time. We want to see people held accountable so that the rest of the health personnel across the country will know that this Parliament will not sit idly by whilst people negligently lead to the loss of life,” he said.
Although the government has announced the formation of a committee to probe the incident, the Majority Leader urged Parliament’s Health Committee to closely track the investigation and provide updates to the House.
“If we are not satisfied with the outcome and the conclusions of government, this Parliament must take very drastic action,” he added.
He concluded by reminding lawmakers of their duty to citizens.
“It is only then that citizens will know that when we converge here, we converge here for their very existence. We are here to defend their lives, to defend their rights, and to defend their interests.”
ALSO READ:
