The Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has interdicted two medical doctors and two nurses following allegations of professional negligence and the refusal to provide emergency care to a hit-and-run victim.
The victim, identified as Charles Amissah, tragically passed away after he was reportedly denied urgent medical attention at the facility’s Accident and Emergency Centre.
The Incident
According to preliminary reports, Mr. Amissah was involved in a hit-and-run accident near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in the early hours of February 7, 2026. He was rushed to Korle Bu by an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team from the National Ambulance Service.
Upon arrival, however, the medical team on duty allegedly refused to admit the patient. Witnesses and ambulance personnel reported that efforts to facilitate emergency care were met with resistance from hospital staff. Despite warnings from the EMS team that moving the patient in his unstable condition could be fatal, the staff reportedly insisted he be taken elsewhere.
Tragedy struck shortly after, as Mr. Amissah went into cardiac arrest within the hospital premises. Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was eventually administered, he could not be revived and was pronounced dead.
Hospital Management Response
In a statement issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, the hospital’s management confirmed that the four staff members have been stepped aside to allow for a full investigation.
“The Management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital wishes to announce that two medical doctors and two nurses have been interdicted following their alleged failure to provide emergency medical care to a hit-and-run victim,” the statement read.
The Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, emphasized that the hospital has a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding the denial of emergency care. He further clarified that emergency services at Korle Bu do not require upfront payment, stressing that the lives of patients must always come first.
Investigation Committee
A formal committee has been constituted to conduct a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Amissah’s death. The committee is tasked with determining whether the staff followed the established clinical protocols and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) directives on emergency response.
The hospital has appealed to the public and the family of the deceased for patience, promising that the process will be fair, transparent, and that any person found culpable will face the full rigors of the hospital’s disciplinary code.
Growing Public Concern
The incident has reignited the national conversation regarding the “no-bed syndrome” and the perceived apathy of some healthcare workers in Ghana. Public health advocates have called for stricter enforcement of the Patient’s Charter to ensure that no Ghanaian is turned away during a life-threatening emergency.
Management of the hospital has assured the public that they remain committed to providing quality healthcare and will provide further updates once the investigative committee completes its work.
