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Doctors named in Charles Amissah report face threats online, victimisation - GMA

Ernest Yorke New Dr Ernest Yorke is President of the Ghana Medical Association

Thu, 7 May 2026 Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed worry over the naming of health professionals by the committee that investigated the death of Charles Amissah, a 29-year-old engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited, following a hit-and-run accident near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass.

Speaking on Citi News on Thursday, May 7, 2026, President of the Association, Dr Ernest Yorke, described the decision to publicly identify the doctors as “unfortunate.”

He explained that the move has triggered widespread backlash against the health workers involved and has shifted the focus from gaps in Ghana's emergency health response.

Dr Yorke further disclosed that some of the health professionals named in the report are already facing threats and online victimisation.

He argued that alternative approaches exist for accountability, noting that in many legal and disciplinary systems, identities are protected until processes are concluded, and in some cases, names are withheld to prevent undue harm.

“… Some of them, their social media is being flooded by threats, some are being called, some are being sent messages, even if they are wrong and get disciplined, this burden stays on them," he added.

The association’s reaction follows the directive by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, instructing the Chief Director of the Ministry to begin disciplinary processes against health workers implicated in the case after the submission of the committee’s report.

Presenting the findings of the committee on May 6, 2026, the chairman, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, stated that the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital all received the patient but failed to provide immediate intervention.

“At the Police Hospital, the ambulance arrived with the patient alive. The hospital failed to triage and initiate stabilising interventions,” Prof Akosa said.

He further noted that similar lapses occurred at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, where the ambulance reportedly remained for 17 minutes before leaving with the patient still alive.

According to the committee, delays in emergency response and failures in patient management significantly contributed to the outcome of the case.

It has recommended disciplinary action against several healthcare professionals, alongside sweeping reforms to Ghana’s emergency healthcare system.

Among those who were named and expected to face disciplinary action are Dr Anne-Marie Kudowor of the Police Hospital, Dr Nina Naomi Eyram Adotevi of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and Dr Ida Druant as well as Dr (Med) Genevieve Adjar of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, alongside other nursing staff mentioned in the report.

It also proposed series of urgent systemic reforms aimed at addressing long-standing gaps in emergency healthcare delivery.

Key among the recommendations is the establishment of a National Electronic Emergency Bed Management System to improve coordination and provide real-time information on hospital bed availability nationwide.

The report also called for compulsory triaging of all patients presenting in emergency conditions to ensure prompt assessment and treatment, regardless of capacity constraints.

Amissah was reportedly knocked down in a hit-and-run incident on February 6, 2026.

He was initially attended to by personnel from the National Ambulance Service but later encountered difficulties accessing emergency care.

Charles Amissah Death: Committee recommends disciplinary action for doctors, nurses

Reports indicate that he was turned away by several health facilities, including the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, reportedly due to a lack of available beds.

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Source: www.ghanaweb.com