'Committee works not sacrosanct' - Okoe Boye demands further scrutiny of Amissah report

Former Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has called for greater transparency regarding the Prof Badu Akosa Committee report on the death of hit-and-run victim Charles Amissah.

He urged authorities to release the full foundational documents and transcripts for proper public and professional scrutiny.

The committee’s findings, which were recently presented, concluded that Amissah did not die from injuries sustained in the accident but from alleged medical neglect by the facilities at the center of the case; the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The report named specific medical officers involved and recommended disciplinary measures through their institutions and regulatory bodies.

Speaking on ChannelOne TV on Thursday, May 7, 2026, Dr Okoe Boye acknowledged the importance of such committee reports but stressed the need for careful, evidence-based review when they address matters of significant public interest.

No Bed Syndrome: Committee reveals cause of Charles Amissah's death

He expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend where government-appointed committees present only summaries or slides of their conclusions without making the underlying evidence, including witness submissions and full transcripts, available for independent examination.

“Sometimes, people given an assignment by the government come and tell us things and they don’t give us the foundational documents for us to peruse. I see a trend,” he said.

Dr Okoe Boye emphasised that access to complete records, particularly transcripts of testimonies and responses from those who appeared before the committee, is essential for balanced analysis and informed public discourse.

“We need to see what the document says. We need to even have a transcript of the responses those who appeared before the committee gave. It helps you to better analyse and contribute to situations,” citinewsroom quoted him.

He further cautioned that committee findings should not be treated as final or beyond reproach, pointing out that several investigative reports in the past have been successfully challenged.

“Committee works are not sacrosanct. People have challenged works of committees in the past and have triumphed,” Dr Okoe Boye noted.

Without access to the full background materials, he warned, there is a risk of forming conclusions based on incomplete information rather than the complete context.

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

VKB/VPO

Ghana could host a world golf tournament – BoG Governor Dr Asiama