Seven medical staff to face disciplinary action for 'killing' Charles Amissah

Health Minister receiving the report from investigative committee chair

The Ministry of Health has directed that seven health professionals from the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital face disciplinary action following a damning inquiry into the death of Charles Amissah, a road accident victim who was denied critical emergency care.

Those cited in the report include Dr Aida Druante, Dr Genevieve Adjah, Joy Daisy Nelson and Salamatu Alhassan of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Nina Naomi Eyram and Akosua B Turkson of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, as well as Dr Anne Marie Kudowo of the Police Hospital.

Charles Amissah, an engineer with Promasidor in Accra, died after sustaining injuries in a hit-and-run accident in February 2026 while returning home from work on his motorbike.

An independent investigative committee chaired by renowned pathologist and former Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Agyeman Badu Akosa, concluded that Amissah’s death was preventable and resulted from prolonged medical neglect rather than the immediate impact of the crash.

The report found that the victim remained alive throughout his transfer between the Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, but failed to receive basic lifesaving interventions such as bleeding control, intravenous fluids and blood transfusion.

“The pathology confirms a slow death from medical neglect, and was not from the instant trauma,” Prof Akosa stated while presenting the findings in Accra on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

“What it means is that, if at any of these facilities, there had been medical intervention, Charles Amissah could have survived,” he added.

The post mortem examination revealed that Amissah suffered a deep laceration to the right upper arm which damaged major blood vessels and muscles, causing excessive blood loss. The report stressed that the injury was survivable with timely emergency treatment.

At a press briefing during the presentation of the report, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, announced immediate measures to ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence.

“The most important aspect is for us to be able to avoid the avoidable deaths we have witnessed,” the Minister said.

He assured the committee that its recommendations would not be ignored and pledged full commitment to implementing reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s emergency healthcare system.

“I want to repeat and assure the committee that your work will not be in vain. We will endeavour to implement all the recommendations in the best interest of Mother Ghana,” he said.

Beyond sanctions against the medical personnel involved, the committee proposed sweeping reforms to Ghana’s emergency care framework.

Among the key recommendations was the establishment of a national emergency care fund to guarantee immediate treatment for critically injured patients, regardless of their ability to pay or whether they are taken to public or private facilities.

The committee also called for a mandatory policy requiring all hospitals to stabilise emergency patients before referring them elsewhere, arguing that no critically ill patient should ever be turned away without urgent intervention.

In addition, the report recommended opening the Ghana Armed Forces Critical Care and Emergency Hospital for full public use to help ease pressure on civilian facilities and improve emergency response capacity nationwide.

The committee further urged government to establish a central governance and monitoring system to ensure the recommendations are fully implemented rather than abandoned after publication.

Other members of the committee included Dr Koku Awoonor Williams, Dr Conrad Buckle, Dr Henry Kwasi Bulley, Dr Kwame Ekremet, Faustina Excel, Gertrude Nana Konadu Agyeman, Inua I Yusu and Dacosta Osei Agyekum.