Speaking during a JoyNews national dialogue on Ghana’s emergency care crisis on Thursday, Dr. Amissah detailed the family’s desperate search after her brother went missing.

Charles Amissah reportedly suffered severe injuries in a hit-and-run accident on February 6, 2026, at the Circle Overpass. However, his family remained unaware of the incident for days, fearing he may have been kidnapped after his phone calls were picked but not answered.

“Someone was picking up his calls but not responding to us, so we thought it could be a kidnapping. We went from hospital to hospital, but no one had seen him. No facility reported any accident victim matching his description,” she said.

According to her, it later emerged that he had been picked up by a National Ambulance Service team and transported for medical care — efforts that, according to Dr. Amissah, were unsuccessful.

“He was first taken to the Police Hospital, but they said there was no bed. Even when the ambulance team tried to get them to use a trolley, they refused. They were then referred to Ridge Hospital, but the same thing happened. They were told to go back to the Police Hospital,” she added.

Dr. Amissah suggested that the back-and-forth between facilities caused critical delays in administering life-saving treatment.

She stated that the family only discovered the truth days later when police contacted them to identify a motorbike linked to an accident.

She added that their search ended at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary, where Charles had initially been recorded as an unidentified body.

“It was heartbreaking. I couldn’t go through the bodies myself. They had to bring him out on a trolley,” she recounted. “When I saw him, I knew it was my brother. It was devastating.”

She described visible injuries, including a deep wound to his shoulder and friction burns, indicating the severity of the accident.

Dr. Amissah used the platform to call for urgent reforms in Ghana’s emergency care system.

“No patient in a critical condition should be turned away because there is no bed space. We need a system that responds to emergencies with urgency and humanity,” she stressed.

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The atmosphere was heavy with grief as mourners struggled to hold back tears while his mortal remains lay in a casket. Many recalled Charles’s love for fellowship and his dedication to supporting church activities and youth programmes.

At just 29, he was widely seen as someone who had only begun to step fully into his purpose, with aspirations to expand his professional pursuits and contribute further to society.

A thanksgiving service in his honour is scheduled for Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Charles passed away on February 6 after being denied emergency care due to a lack of beds at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Although the National Ambulance Service stabilised him, he succumbed to his injuries after nearly three hours of being transferred between facilities.

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 of his death, with authorities calling for full cooperation to ensure a transparent and thorough inquiry.

Family members say the circumstances of his passing have left them heartbroken but determined to seek justice.

Charles’s death has reignited calls for urgent reforms in emergency healthcare delivery and improvements to hospital infrastructure nationwide.

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Myjoyonline’s award-winning photojournalist, David Andoh, captured these photos from the funeral in Adenta in Accra.

Charles passed away on February 6 after being denied emergency care due to a lack of beds at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital the National Ambulance Service stabilised him, but after nearly three hours of being moved between facilities, he later succumbed to his injuries.

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 established to probe the circumstances surrounding the case, with hospital authorities calling for full cooperation to ensure a transparent and thorough inquiry.

Family members say the circumstances of his death have left them heartbroken but resolute in seeking justice.

His passing has reignited calls for comprehensive reforms in emergency healthcare delivery and hospital infrastructure nationwide.

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His sister, Dr Matilda Amissah, shared the emotional story of her brother’s passing in an interview on JoyNews’ News Desk Programme.

A Loving Brother and Son

Dr Matilda Amissah fondly described her brother as a quiet, loving gentleman who was the “backbone of the house,” playing a central role in supporting their family. As the only male among three siblings, Charles was the one whom everyone relied on, not only for emotional support but also for his practical skills.

“He was very quiet, loving, and a gentleman,” Dr Amissah said, holding back tears. “He was the backbone of the house. He supported my mom in everything. As an engineer, he could dismantle and put things back together in the twinkle of an eye.”

Dr Amissah detailed the harrowing day the family first learned of Charles’ accident. Initially, they had feared he was missing, but after reporting it to the police, they were informed by the Nima Police Station that they needed to identify a body.

“We thought he was missing. We reported it to the police. They did their part to search for him, and eventually, Nima Police called us to identify a person. The age was 48,” she explained.

When they arrived at the Korle Bu Mortuary, they were shocked to find Charles. It was later revealed that the National Ambulance had transported him to three different hospitals over a span of nearly three hours, but none of the hospitals were able to admit him due to reported bed shortages.

“I was like, ‘Wow.’ I still can’t believe it,” Dr Amissah said, her voice heavy with emotion. “Three hours, and no one could help him.”

Despite the immense grief, Dr Amissah’s response was a call for action and change. She expressed both her heartbreak and hope for reform, acknowledging the chronic issues within the healthcare system that led to her brother’s death.

“I know that we have a lot of issues in the healthcare system that we have to address,” she said. “But I’m still heartbroken. I’m smiling, but my heart is heavy. I’m still heartbroken. We were hoping that things would change. I was hoping that the government would come in and help strengthen the healthcare system.”

Dr Amissah pointed to the government’s need to address these systemic issues, particularly within emergency care. On the fateful day of the accident, the family was told that Charles had been turned away from the hospitals because of a lack of available beds.

While two doctors and two nurses at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have been interdicted as part of an ongoing investigation, Dr Amissah stressed that no amount of action could bring Charles back.

“Charles is gone. Nothing will bring him back. We are still saddened.”

Funeral Preparations

Amid the grief, the family is now focused on preparing to lay Charles to rest. Dr Amissah confirmed that preparations are underway for the funeral on Friday at the Methodist Church in Accra.

“We are 90% ready for the funeral,” Dr Amissah said. “Promasidor has been very supportive in helping with the preparations.”

A Legacy of Strength and Resilience

When asked how she would like her brother to be remembered, Dr Amissah described Charles as a man of great strength and resilience, someone who always went above and beyond to help others.

“I want us to remember him as a strong, resilient young man, ready to fix things and make things right,” she said, her voice steady despite the heartbreak.

Reforms in Emergency Care Needed

As a medical professional, Dr Amissah also spoke candidly about what changes she believes are necessary for Ghana’s emergency care system. She emphasised the importance of a strong triage system, which helps healthcare workers prioritise patients based on the severity of their conditions.

“It’s all about confidence in triage,” she said. “If the triage system is strong enough, doctors can intervene and give first aid immediately. If it’s blood, the patient will need it. But if you don’t look properly, you won’t see.”

She continued, “I would say that we can strengthen the triage system and equip doctors to be able to handle emergencies properly. It would go a long way.”

“We are focused on laying him to rest,” she said. “That is our priority now.”

The deceased, 29-year-old Charles Amissah, an engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited, sustained severe shoulder injuries in a hit-and-run accident at the Circle Overpass in Accra on February 6, 2026.

He was stabilised by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and prepared for transfer to a hospital for further treatment.

Reports indicate that Amissah was unable to secure admission at the Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital, and Korle Bu due to a lack of available beds. While at Korle Bu, he reportedly went into cardiac arrest.

Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered, efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was later pronounced dead.

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The Ministry said the committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive and independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which reportedly occurred on February 6, 2026.

According to the Ministry, the committee will examine the sequence of events leading to the incident, including decision-making processes and any contributing factors that may have caused delays or challenges in providing emergency medical care. It will also assess the adequacy and effectiveness of existing policies, protocols, and oversight mechanisms governing emergency healthcare delivery across health facilities.

The committee is chaired by renowned pathologist Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, and includes Dr. Henry Kwasi Bulley, a Fellow in Emergency Medicine at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and Dr. Koku Awoonor-Williams, Technical Advisor to the Health Minister.

The panel has been given until March 5, 2026, to submit its findings and recommendations to the Minister for Health.

The Ministry assured the public of its commitment to promoting integrity, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that all health facilities strictly adhere to established standards in the delivery of emergency care.