A committee set up to investigate the death of hit-and-run victim Charles Amissah has concluded that a breakdown in emergency medical care — not the accident itself — led to his death, raising serious concerns about Ghana’s referral system and hospital response protocols.
Mr Amissah, a 29-year-old engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited, was knocked down at the Circle Overpass on February 6, 2026. He was reportedly stabilised at the scene by emergency responders before being transported for further treatment.
However, instead of receiving urgent care, he was turned away by multiple health facilities, including the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and the Police Hospital.
The committee found that repeated referrals and delays in admission significantly worsened his condition, ultimately leading to cardiac arrest at Korle Bu, where he was later pronounced dead.
Presenting its findings on Wednesday, May 6, the committee said none of the facilities provided the immediate emergency intervention required, instead failing at the critical stage of triage.
According to the report, timely medical attention at any of the hospitals could have saved his life.
“The pathology confirms that this was a slow death from medical neglect and not from the instant trauma. What it means is that if at any of these facilities there had been medical intervention, Charles Amissah would have survived,” the committee stated.
In the aftermath of the findings, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has interdicted two doctors and two nurses over their alleged roles in the failure to provide emergency care, as investigations continue into possible further sanctions.
The case has intensified scrutiny on emergency healthcare delivery in Ghana, particularly the practice of turning away critically ill patients due to capacity or administrative constraints.
