Ridge Hospital Assault Report Exposes Deep Crisis in Ghana’s Emergency Healthcare System

Turning Point Foundation expresses grave concern following the release of the Ridge Assault Investigative Committee Report, which has laid bare critical systemic failures within Ghana’s emergency healthcare system. The incident of August 17, 2025, at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH), which drew national outrage after viral videos showed confrontations between patient relatives and hospital staff, is not an isolated event. Rather, it is a symptom of a collapsing emergency care system that demands urgent and comprehensive reforms.

The investigative committee’s findings paint a troubling picture of severe infrastructure gaps and chronic under-resourcing. The report confirmed that there was no delay in providing initial medical care to the patient and found no evidence of a fracture in the nurse’s left wrist or a dislocation in her right shoulder joint from the alleged attack. However, it revealed that all diagnostic imaging equipment at the Emergency Department, including the X-ray, CT scan, and MRI machines, were non-functional at the time of the incident. As a result, patients and their families are forced to rely on external facilities for essential tests, causing critical delays in treatment. This situation creates immense frustration for both patients and hospital staff, often escalating tensions and leading to confrontations.

Even more alarming were revelations about the state of security and staffing at the hospital. The Emergency Department had only one private security guard per 12-hour shift, leaving both patients and healthcare workers highly vulnerable. Although there is a police post within the hospital compound, its distance from the Emergency Department renders it ineffective during crises. Staffing levels were equally dire, with just one medical officer per shift and 34 out of 88 nurses abandoning their posts without replacement. This left already overstretched frontline staff struggling to provide care under immense pressure, exposing them to exhaustion, violence, and emotional distress.

The situation has been worsened by the closure of La General Hospital, which has redirected more patients to GARH, placing unsustainable pressure on its Emergency Department. GARH now operates at near full capacity daily, receiving the bulk of trauma and acute medical cases in the Greater Accra Region. These systemic shortcomings are not only compromising patient care but are also endangering the safety and well-being of frontline health workers.

The August 17 incident must therefore be viewed as more than a single confrontation. It is a warning sign of a healthcare system in distress. Without urgent reforms, patients will continue to face avoidable delays, complications, and deaths, while frontline staff remain vulnerable to harassment, verbal abuse, and potential physical harm. Public confidence in Ghana’s health system is rapidly eroding, and failure to act now will deepen the crisis further.

Turning Point Foundation calls on the Ministry of Health, Parliament, and all relevant stakeholders to implement immediate and sustained reforms to address these systemic gaps. There is an urgent need to invest in emergency care infrastructure, including the repair and replacement of broken diagnostic equipment and the provision of affordable diagnostic tools to facilities across the country. Security must also be strengthened by deploying trained personnel, improving police collaboration, and installing CCTV surveillance systems to enhance response times and deter violence.

Equally important is the need to address staffing shortages by recruiting, training, and retaining more doctors, nurses, and administrative personnel while improving working conditions to prevent burnout and attrition. Expanding access to secondary-level health facilities will also help reduce the overwhelming burden on GARH and other major referral hospitals. Furthermore, there must be intensified public education on the role and limitations of emergency services to foster better understanding and cooperation between health workers and the communities they serve.

This report underscores that Ghana’s emergency healthcare system is in deep crisis and requires decisive action. The country cannot afford to wait for the next tragedy before implementing reforms. Policymakers must demonstrate strong political will to prioritize emergency healthcare, while civil society, the private sector, and development partners must rally behind sustainable investments in life-saving systems.

Turning Point Foundation remains committed to advocating for safe, equitable, and quality healthcare for all Ghanaians. Advocacy alone is not enough; the situation calls for urgent collective action to safeguard lives, restore public confidence, and guarantee that frontline healthcare workers have the protection and resources they need to serve the nation effectively.