The Ridge Assault Investigative Committee has finally presented its findings to Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, following the August 17th incident at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s Emergency Department.
The case drew huge public attention after videos of an alleged assault went viral online. But the committee’s report paints a more complex picture.
First, the good news; there was no delay in providing emergency care to the patient with a suspected head injury, even though many thought otherwise. What the committee did find, however, was that all key diagnostic machines at the Emergency Department—X-ray, CT scan, and MRI, were out of service at the time. Tests had to be done outside the hospital, creating delays and frustrations that fueled the confrontation.
On the alleged assault, the committee says there is no evidence of a physical attack. The videos reviewed only captured heated verbal exchanges between Ralph St. Williams, some riders, and hospital staff. The nurse who reported being assaulted, Ms. Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, later complained of pain in her hand, but medical records confirmed no fractures, only minor pain, for which she received treatment and counseling.
Security, the report notes, was woefully inadequate. Only one private guard was on duty for each 12-hour shift, with no quick access to the police post on the hospital premises. Staff shortages were also alarming, just one medical officer per shift and barely half of the nursing staff available at the Emergency Department.
The Emergency Department itself is described as overstretched and overcrowded, with nearly every bed occupied daily and patients from across Accra rushing there for trauma and acute care, especially since La General Hospital has been closed.
As for Ralph St. Williams, the man at the center of the controversy, he denied assaulting anyone. He admitted being provoked by a nurse’s comments but insisted his live video was meant to expose delays, not staff. He later submitted a written statement and video evidence through his lawyer.
The Committee has made sweeping recommendations:
Boost security with more guards, CCTV cameras, and police presence during peak hours.
Recruit additional doctors, nurses, and client service officers to ease the workload.
Repair or replace broken imaging equipment immediately.
And at the national level, expand emergency care facilities, strengthen staffing, and improve access to diagnostic tools to reduce pressure on major hospitals.
The Health Minister has received the report and is expected to act on the recommendations.
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