Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has confirmed that arrests have been made in connection with the alleged assault on a nurse at Ridge Hospital, though he declined to disclose names.
“I get briefings almost every day. I am informed that some arrests have been made and statements have been taken. Medical forms have been issued and the processes are ongoing. But as to the details, I didn’t have them at the time,” he stated.
The Minister explained that his decision to establish a committee was not only to investigate the alleged assault but also to examine broader issues at the hospital.
“There has been an alleged assault, but also allegations of delay in attending to patients.
“The nurses and doctors may also have reasons, and I am not willing at this point to go into the processes of emergency and triage. These are matters for the committee. The most important aspect is to prevent the reoccurrence of a similar incident,” he said, assuring that the committee’s report would be made public.
Mr. Akandoh also addressed criticism from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and other unions regarding his handling of the matter.
Standing by his record, he said: “I always tell people to judge me per what I am doing at the moment. I have been a ranking member of the health committee for about seven years, a member of parliament for four terms, and a deputy minister before. If this is not competence, I don’t know what competence is.”
While acknowledging the concerns of union leaders, the Minister stressed that their criticism would not derail his efforts.
“I don’t want to be an armchair minister. Some of these things will not stop me or demoralize me. I will continue to give off my best. If people in any part of the country feel that the Minister can be here at any given point in time, that is good news. It must be encouraged,” he emphasized.
On whether he expected an apology from the GRNMA for questioning his credibility, Mr. Akandoh was firm: “I don’t really care whether they apologize or not. That is not my target. My focus is to deliver.”
