The Ministry of Health’s investigative committee into the August 17 Ridge Hospital altercation has revealed severe lapses in security and staffing at the emergency department, which contributed to tensions that nearly escalated into violence.
The report noted that only one private security officer was stationed per 12-hour shift at the emergency unit, a situation described as “woefully inadequate” for a hospital that records near-full bed occupancy and handles referrals from across Accra.
A police post located on the hospital premises was said to be too far from the emergency block, leaving staff vulnerable in volatile situations.
“The hospital security arrangement does not match the volume and nature of cases received,” the committee stressed, recommending the deployment of Ghana Police Service personnel to emergency departments on a 24-hour basis.
Equally alarming was the staff shortage. Out of 88 nurses originally assigned to the emergency department, 34 had vacated their posts without replacement, leaving just 54 to manage a high-pressure environment. In August, the facility operated with only one medical officer per shift and one emergency specialist per day, supported by visiting doctors on call.
The committee warned that the severe human resource gaps undermine quality emergency care and create fertile ground for public dissatisfaction. It recommended immediate recruitment of additional doctors, nurses, and administrative managers, including client service officers, to manage patient inflows more effectively.
Beyond Ridge Hospital, the report urged government to strengthen emergency care capacity nationwide by building more secondary hospitals in Accra and other populous regions. This, it argued, would ease the burden on Ridge and reduce unnecessary referrals.
