No bed Syndrome: Medical neglect caused Charles Amissah’s death – Investigative C’ttee finds

The Committee established by the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to investigate circumstances leading to the death of Charles Amissah, a patient who was denied emergency care due to unavailability of bed has presented its findings to the Minister.

In February 2026, the Minister charged the Committee to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation into circumstances leading to the death of Charles Amissah.

Also, the committee had a duty to conduct a comprehensive & independent investigation into circumstances leading to alleged denial of emergency care to Charles Amissah at the Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Background
After months of investigations, the Committee chaired by Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa concluded that Charles Amissah’s death was avoidable.

According to the Committee, the medical staff on duty at the Police hospital, Ridge hospital and Korle-Bu hospital “failed to attend to Charles Amissah when he was in a life- threatening condition, and this led to his avoidable death.”

Presenting its findings on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the Committee explained that the pathology confirmed Charles Amissah died slowly from “medical neglect and was not from the instant trauma” of the accident.

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

According to the report by the Committee, Charles Amissah died of exsanguination (excessive loss of blood) due to right upper arm bone and soft tissue injuries, causing damage to axillary and brachial arteries and veins, following the accident.

“If the Ambulance crew had applied compression on the lacerations and packed the deep wound prior to transportation, they could have stopped the bleeding,” the Committee suggested.

The findings further revealed that seven medical doctors from Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching were negligent and failed to exercise ethical and professional judgment prudently by not attending to Charles Amissah in life-threatening condition.

The doctors cited in the report are; Dr. (Med) Anne-Marie Kudowor of Police Hospital, Dr. (Med) Nina Naomi Eyram of Ridge hospital, Dr. (Med) Ida Druant of Korle-Bu hospital and Dr. (Med) Genevieve Adjar also of Korle-Bu hospital.

The rest are; Miss Akosua B. Turkson of Ridge hospital, Miss Joy Daisy Nelson of Korle-Bu and Miss Salamatu Alhassan Aidoo of Korle-Bu hospital.

In the case of Dr. (Med) Anne-Marie Kudowor, the Committee added that she was untruthful in her submissions to the Committee. The Committee has since recommended disciplinary actions against these health professionals as well reforms in Ghana’s health system.

Source: 3news