BY Daniel Bampoe
The controversy surrounding the alleged assault of a young nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) continues to deepen, as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) challenges the credibility of a ministerial committee’s findings.
At the heart of the dispute is whether the victim, 25-year-old rotation nurse Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, suffered significant physical injuries during the August 18 incident
The investigative committee, chaired by Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu and commissioned by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, released its report on August 27, concluding that there was “no medical evidence of a fracture or shoulder dislocation” following the altercation.
Instead, the committee found that while a verbal clash occurred between hospital staff and the accused individual, Ralph St. Williams, there was insufficient proof to support claims of serious assault.
According to the report, the nurse was treated for pain, placed on bed rest, and given psychological support, but her medical records did not confirm dislocation or fracture.
The committee also highlighted broader systemic challenges at Ridge Hospital, including staff shortages, faulty diagnostic equipment, and inadequate security at the emergency unit.
GRNMA Rejects Findings
However, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the GRNMA, Jefferson Asare, has strongly disputed the conclusions. Speaking on Channel One TV’s Point of View, Asare insisted that the official diagnosis recorded by the attending physician was polycontusion—a condition marked by multiple bruises, swelling, and pain.
“The diagnosis of the lady at the time was polycontusion. When we say polycontusion, what do we mean? It simply means that there is redness, swelling, and pain at the site of the hit.
That was the medical finding,” he said, questioning whether the committee was casting doubt on the competence of the doctor who made the initial assessment.
Asare further argued that excluding or downplaying the testimony of the first attending doctor undermined the credibility of the entire investigative process.
“So do they want to tell us that the doctor who did the diagnosis doesn’t know what he or she is doing?” he asked.
Ministry Pushes Back
The Health Ministry has since rejected GRNMA’s criticisms.
A spokesperson and member of the committee, Tony Goodman, defended the integrity of the process, stressing that all relevant parties, including the physician who examined the nurse, were consulted.
“That is not correct. We have spoken with everybody, including the doctor who saw the lady. He is a specialist, and this committee’s work cannot be rubbished,” Goodman said in a televised response.
He emphasized that the probe was not designed to assign blame but to strengthen the country’s health system.
“This is extensive work that has been done. We are not looking at who is at fault. We are looking at how best we can strengthen our system,” Goodman added.
Background of the Case
The incident at Ridge Hospital occurred on August 18, 2025, when nurse Rejoice Tsotso Bortei alleged that she was physically assaulted by a relative of a patient during a heated exchange at the emergency unit.
The case sparked outrage among nurses nationwide, with the GRNMA demanding immediate arrest of the suspect and stronger workplace protection for health professionals.
The Health Ministry’s decision to set up a committee was seen as a move to ease tensions. But the release of the findings has only reignited disputes, as many nurses feel the report minimizes the victim’s suffering while glossing over security failures that leave frontline staff vulnerable.
Unresolved Tensions
The clash between the GRNMA and the Ministry points to deeper frustrations within Ghana’s health sector.
Nurses and midwives, who staged a nationwide strike in June over unresolved conditions of service, argue that government has been slow to address long-standing concerns about safety, understaffing, and equipment shortages.
For now, the fate of the Ridge Hospital case remains unsettled. While the Ministry insists the probe was thorough and unbiased, the GRNMA maintains that the victim’s diagnosis and the voices of frontline doctors have not been fully respected.
