An investigative committee set up by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has concluded that the death of Charles Amissah was caused by medical neglect, describing the incident as avoidable and deeply troubling.
The committee, chaired by former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Agyemang Badu Akosa, was tasked in February 2026 to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Amissah’s death after he was allegedly denied emergency care due to the unavailability of hospital beds.
After months of investigation, the committee found that Amissah was turned away or inadequately attended to at multiple health facilities, including the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
According to the report presented on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, medical personnel at these facilities failed to act with urgency despite the patient being in a critical condition.
The committee stated that the pathology findings revealed that Amissah did not die instantly from injuries sustained in the accident but rather “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.
Further details indicate that Amissah died from exsanguination—severe blood loss—caused by injuries to his right upper arm, which damaged major blood vessels including the axillary and brachial arteries and veins.
The report also highlighted lapses in emergency response, noting that the situation could have been stabilised earlier. “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.
In total, seven healthcare professionals across the three facilities were cited for negligence, with the committee concluding that they failed to exercise appropriate ethical and professional judgement in a life-threatening situation.
The individuals named include Dr. Anne-Marie Kudowor of the Police Hospital, Dr. Nina Naomi Eyram and Akosua B. Turkson of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, as well as Dr. Ida Druant, Dr. Genevieve Adjar, Joy Daisy Nelson, and Salamatu Alhassan Aidoo of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The committee further noted that Dr. Kudowor was untruthful in her submissions during the inquiry.
In light of the findings, the committee has recommended disciplinary action against the implicated health professionals, alongside broader reforms aimed at addressing systemic failures within Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.
The case has reignited public concern over the persistent “no bed syndrome” and its impact on emergency healthcare access in the country.
