Ridge Hospital assault report: Key findings and recommendations

The Ridge Assault Investigative Committee has submitted its report to the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, following the August 17, 2025, incident at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s Emergency Department (GARH).

The incident sparked public outrage after viral video footage showed relatives of a patient clashing with hospital staff.

Key Findings

1. No Delay in Emergency Care
   • The committee confirmed that emergency care for the patient was not delayed, contrary to public claims.
   • However, diagnostic imaging equipment (X-ray, CT scan, MRI) at the Emergency Department was non-functional, forcing tests to be done outside the facility and causing treatment delays.
2. No Evidence of Physical Assault
   • Video and eyewitness accounts showed verbal altercations involving Mr. Ralph St. Williams, some riders, and hospital staff — but no proof of physical assault.
   • Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, a rotation nurse, reported pain a day later, but medical records confirmed no fractures or dislocations. She received pain relief and psychological support.
3. Inadequate Security
   • Security at the Emergency Department was found to be grossly insufficient.
   • Only one private security officer was assigned per 12-hour shift.
   • The hospital has a police post, but it’s far from the Emergency Department, causing slow response times during disturbances.
4. Severe Staff Shortages
   • In August, only one medical officer per shift was available, with just seven officers and two specialists covering the entire month.
   • Of the 88 nursing staff assigned, only 54 were at post, as 34 had vacated their positions without replacement.
5. Overstretched Emergency Department
   • The ED operates at nearly 100% bed occupancy and receives most trauma and acute medical cases in Greater Accra.
   • The situation worsened after the closure of the La Hospital, pushing more patients to GARH.
6. Ralph St. Williams’ Position
   • Through a written report and video evidence, Ralph:
     • Denied physically assaulting any staff or witnessing others do so.
     • Admitted being provoked by a nurse’s comments.
     • Stated his videos aimed to highlight delays, not attack hospital staff.
     • Submitted Facebook Live footage as evidence.

Recommendations

A. Security & Surveillance

• Deploy more security officers at the Emergency Department and Ambulance areas.
• Ensure the ED gate is manned at all times.
• Expand CCTV coverage to improve monitoring.
• Assign police officers during weekends and night shifts for additional support.

B. Staffing

• Recruit more clinical staff dedicated to emergency care.
• Hire administrative officers to handle client services at the ED.

C. Diagnostic Equipment

• Repair or replace non-functional imaging equipment, including X-ray, CT scan, and MRI machines.

D. Health System Strengthening

• Build human resource capacity for emergency care nationwide.
• Establish more secondary-level health facilities in each region.
• Support hospitals to acquire affordable diagnostic tools to reduce referrals.
• Intensify public education on emergency department roles and protocols.
• Ensure strict adherence to emergency care procedures across facilities.