Obuor's family question Ridge Hospital over legitimacy of father's coronavirus status

There have been a lot of back and forth between authorities of Ridge Hospital and the family of musician, Bice Osei Kuffour, popularly known as Obuor, following the demise of his father.

Earlier, reports were rife that Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour died at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) on March 26 after testing positive for Coronavirus.

The revelation led to the mandatory quarantine and testing of all health workers who came in contact with the father of the musician prior to his demise.

Family of the chief, Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour has raised concerns following reports that the health workers who were exposed to him tested negative.

A statement from the hospital read:

“The management of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) is happy to announce to the general public and staff that all those who were put under mandatory quarantine in connection with Obour’ father, a confirmed case has tested negative. They include seven nurses, three doctors and an IT officer,” a statement issued by the hospital said.

The hospital further stated that “the above category of workers were quarantined because they had contact with the deceased when he was accidentally admitted and briefly managed at the emergency ward.”

In response, however, the family criticized the hospital for putting out inaccurate information about the time of death of Obuor’s father.

“We find it strange and unfortunate…that an institution the size of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital will wrongly communicate the date of death of a patient to the public. Our beloved Nana Osei Boansi Kuffuor died on Friday, March 27th, 2020 and not on Thursday, March 26th as stated in the media release,” portion of a signed statement read.

Further questioning the validity of the autopsy report the hospital put out, the family challenged them to release it for all to see.

“We also find it strange that the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, through that press statement deliberately sought to paint a picture that makes it appear that our late father died from the dreaded COVID-19 and needlessly exposed people along the line. The statement issued by the GARH stated categorically that the deceased tested positive “after his death”. Does it mean that he did not test positive before his death? Does it mean that he was only tested after his death?”

They disclosed that till date, the autopsy report of the late Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour had not been made available to them despite the family lawyers' request for it, making them doubt the authenticity of the report that he died as a result of the global pandemic.

“It is instructive to note finally, that all family members who were exposed to the late Nana Osei Boansi Kuffuor have all tested negative. Family members including his wife and other very close associates who were also exposed to him have also tested negative. The health personnel from the Greater Accra Regional Hospital have also tested negative as stated in the Media Release sent out by the Management of the Hospital. So then, did our late father really die of COVID-19 as the public has been made to believe?”, the family added.

Read the family’s statement below,