Accra: Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health, has expressed concern over personal attacks following the recent assault on a nurse at Ridge Hospital. Addressing the media in Accra, he said he remained committed to the welfare of health workers and described attempts to incite professionals against the government as regrettable. 'It has come to our attention as a ministry that some union leaders have developed a habit of attacking my person at the least provocation-and in most cases, without provocation,' he stated.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister was responding to a viral video showing Ralph Williams, known on social media as Fellow Ghanaian, alleging neglect at the hospital's emergency ward and capturing a nurse being assaulted by a group of young men. Mr. Akandoh said he dispatched a delegation to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on Monday to assess the situation. 'When the delegation came back, after debriefing, I realised that I had to follow up and visit the victim. After going round, we had a closed-door meeting to discuss issues on how to beef up security, among others, at the hospital,' he said.
The Minister reiterated that no level of provocation justified violence against health professionals. He said it was unlawful and unacceptable for anyone to attack health personnel, adding that the appropriate response was to lodge a formal complaint. Mr. Akandoh said he had informed hospital management of his intention to hear all sides of the story. 'When I came out, my attention was drawn to a man called Ralph who was at the centre of the controversy. He walked towards me, I asked him why he did that, he stretched his hands to shake me and whispered into my ears that he will come and see me,' he recounted.
He clarified that the handshake did not signify leniency or affect the ministry's commitment to fully investigate the incident. A committee has been formed to investigate the matter and is expected to submit its report within one week. Commenting on medical negligence, Mr. Akandoh revealed that the government spends over GHS10 million annually on related claims, despite limited resources for medical equipment. He described the issue as critical and in need of urgent attention.
Mr. Akandoh said the Ministry was pursuing reforms to improve healthcare delivery and working to employ nurses currently at home. 'We are looking at how we can export some of them and make them attractive on the global market by introducing specialist programmes,' he said.
