Ridge Hospital Staff Cleared of Negligence, Broken Equipment Blamed for Treatment Delays

The committee tasked with probing the August 17, 2025, confrontation at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH), popularly known as Ridge Hospital, has exonerated medical staff of allegations of negligence, instead attributing delays in treatment to systemic equipment failures.

No Delay in Initial Care

According to the committee’s findings, medical personnel promptly attended to the patient, who was brought in with a suspected head injury, contrary to viral claims that staff abandoned their duties.

“Clinical care commenced without delay,” the report emphasized, noting that the real bottleneck stemmed from the lack of functional diagnostic equipment within the Emergency Department.

Broken Machines Stalled Treatment

At the time of the incident, Ridge Hospital’s X-ray, CT scan, and MRI machines were all out of service, forcing doctors to refer the patient to external facilities for critical tests. The report said this prolonged the treatment process and aggravated tensions among caregivers and the public.

The committee cautioned that the chronic breakdown of these machines undermines public confidence in one of Ghana’s busiest hospitals.

No Evidence of Physical Assault

Despite circulating videos suggesting violence, the probe found no evidence that Ms. Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, a rotation nurse, was physically assaulted. The evidence confirmed only a heated verbal exchange involving Mr. Ralph St. Williams, a group of riders, and hospital staff.

Though Ms. Bortei later complained of pain in her left hand, medical examinations revealed no fractures. She has since received pain management and psychological support.

Staffing and Security Gaps Exposed

Beyond the confrontation, the committee highlighted deep-seated institutional weaknesses at the Emergency Department:

Inadequate security: Only one private security guard covered each 12-hour shift. A police post exists on the premises but is located far from the ED, resulting in delayed response to disturbances.

Staff shortages: The department was running with just one medical officer per shift in August, supported by only seven medical officers and two specialists in total. Out of 88 expected nurses, just 54 were available, with 34 having vacated their posts without replacement.

Overstretched facilities: Ridge ED continues to absorb overwhelming trauma and emergency cases in Accra, worsened by the shutdown of the La General Hospital.

Key Recommendations

• To address these systemic failures, the committee proposed:
• Increasing security personnel and deploying police support during peak hours.
• Expanding CCTV coverage within the Emergency Department.
• Recruiting additional doctors, nurses, and administrative staff dedicated to emergency care.
• Repairing or replacing all non-functional diagnostic machines.
• Strengthening emergency care systems nationwide and ensuring strict adherence to treatment protocols.

Mr. St. Williams Responds

Mr. Ralph St. Williams, whose confrontation with hospital staff triggered the incident, denied physically attacking anyone. In his testimony, he admitted being provoked by comments from a nurse but said his livestreams were meant to highlight systemic failures rather than target individuals.

A Sector-Wide Wake-Up Call

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh is expected to review the committee’s recommendations for urgent action. The report concluded that while Ridge Hospital’s staff acted professionally under the circumstances, chronic equipment failures, understaffing, and weak security remain pressing threats to quality emergency care in Ghana.