The committee established by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to investigate the death of Charles Amissah has submitted its findings.
Mr Amissah died after reportedly being denied emergency care due to a lack of available beds.
Appointed in February 2026, the panel conducted an independent inquiry into the alleged refusal of treatment at the Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The committee, chaired by Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa, concluded that the tragedy was entirely preventable.
The report states that medical staff at all three facilities “failed to attend to Charles Amissah when he was in a life-threatening condition, and this led to his avoidable death.”
Pathology results presented on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, confirmed that Mr Amissah died slowly from “medical neglect and was not from the instant trauma” of his initial accident.
The findings clarified that “if at any of these facilities, there had been medical intervention, Charles Amissah could have survived.”
Clinical details revealed that the cause of death was exsanguination resulting from bone and soft tissue injuries to the right upper arm.
The committee noted that “if the Ambulance crew had applied compression on the lacerations and packed the deep wound prior to transportation, they could have stopped the bleeding.”
Seven medical professionals were identified as negligent for failing to exercise prudent professional judgement.
Those cited include Dr Anne-Marie Kudowor of the Police Hospital, Dr Nina Naomi Eyram and Miss Akosua B. Turkson of Ridge Hospital, and Dr Ida Druant, Dr Genevieve Adjar, Miss Joy Daisy Nelson, and Miss Salamatu Alhassan Aidoo of Korle-Bu. The committee specifically noted that Dr Kudowor was untruthful during her testimony.
Consequently, the panel has recommended disciplinary action against the named individuals alongside systemic reforms to Ghana’s healthcare framework.
Brief of the report
The provided timeline begins at 22:32, when the patient was first assessed at the scene and found to be clinically stable with an oxygen saturation of 99% and a blood pressure of 120/80. The first transfer followed shortly thereafter at 22:43, marking the patient’s arrival at the Police Hospital.
By 22:58, only eleven minutes later, the patient was moved to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge). It was at this facility that clinicians reportedly observed the first signs of critical decline, noting symptoms consistent with early organ shock specifically described in the report as “shocked kidneys.”
The patient was transferred once more at 23:20—forty-eight minutes after the initial incident—arriving at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the country’s premier referral facility.
Despite reaching this high-level care center, his condition continued to deteriorate rapidly.
At 00:30, precisely 118 minutes after the incident began, he was pronounced dead. The official cause of death was recorded as cerebral oedema and fatal exsanguination.
The report further highlights significant operational challenges within the referral chain that may have impacted the outcome.
Specifically, it cites delays linked to bed availability, characterizing the difficulties encountered during transfers between facilities as a “no bed syndrome” situation.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
