Health Minister Directs Sanctions After Probe into Amissah’s Death
Minister orders swift disciplinary action after probe reveals preventable lapses in emergency care
- Committee finds Charles Amissah’s death was avoidable due to systemic failures
- Health workers cited for negligence at multiple major hospitals in Accra
- Minister directs immediate sanctions and regulatory action to prevent future incidents
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has ordered disciplinary action against a number of health workers implicated in the findings of a committee set up to investigate the death of Charles Amissah.
Amissah, a 29-year-old engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited, died following a hit-and-run incident in Accra. Reports indicate he was turned away from multiple health facilities due to a lack of available beds, ultimately dying while being transported. The incident triggered widespread public concern over emergency healthcare responses.
A three-member committee chaired by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa found significant failures in the handling of the case. Its report highlighted weak emergency response systems, including insufficient training among ambulance personnel and poor professional judgment by some healthcare providers.
Doctors and nurses from the Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital were cited for failing to provide critical care when it was most needed. Those named include Dr Anne Marie Kuduwa, Dr Nina Naomi Adotevi, Dr Ida Drunt, Dr Genevieve Ajah, and nurses B. Turkson, Joy Daisy Nelson, and Salamatu Alhassan Adu.
The committee concluded that Amissah’s death could have been prevented and recommended that disciplinary measures be taken through the appropriate regulatory bodies.
Speaking after receiving the report on Wednesday, May 6, the Minister assured the public that the full findings would be released and acted upon promptly. He instructed the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health to formally notify the relevant institutions and professional regulators to begin disciplinary proceedings.
He stressed the urgency of addressing systemic weaknesses to prevent similar incidents in the future, noting that avoiding preventable deaths must be a top priority.
The affected professionals are expected to face review by the Medical and Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Minister added that some hospitals have already initiated internal disciplinary processes and urged all relevant bodies to act swiftly in line with their mandates.
The directive forms part of broader efforts to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery and accountability within the system.
