The committee set up by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has concluded that the death of Charles Amissah following a motorcycle accident in February 2026 was largely due to failures in emergency care across multiple health facilities.
The report, submitted on 6 May 2026 and chaired by Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, investigated the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Amissah, who was involved in a crash at the Circle Overhead Bridge on 6 February 2026.
The inquiry followed media reports alleging that the patient was denied emergency care at the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH), and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
According to the report, Mr. Amissah sustained severe injuries, including deep lacerations and a fractured upper arm, which led to massive blood loss. The committee concluded that he died from exsanguination, or excessive bleeding, which could have been prevented with timely medical intervention.
It found that at all three major hospitals visited—Police Hospital, GARH, and KBTH—Mr. Amissah arrived alive but did not receive immediate triage or stabilising treatment before being moved or redirected.
At the Police Hospital, the report stated that the ambulance remained for about 11 minutes before leaving without effective intervention. A similar pattern was recorded at GARH, where the patient was reportedly not stabilised and was moved after about 17 minutes. At KBTH, the committee noted that the patient was redirected to another facility, and he later died in the ambulance after about 70 minutes.
The report also highlighted gaps in pre-hospital care provided by the ambulance crew, including inconsistent recording of vital signs and limited emergency care skills.
On clinical personnel, the committee made findings of professional lapses, stating that several doctors and nurses failed to exercise appropriate clinical judgment in attending to the patient during a life-threatening emergency.
Beyond assigning responsibility, the report made several system-wide recommendations. These include the establishment of a National Electronic Emergency Bed Management System, compulsory triaging at all health facilities, creation of a National Emergency Care Fund, and strengthened training in basic and advanced life support for health workers and the public.
The committee also recommended the full integration of the Ghana Armed Forces Critical Care and Emergency Hospital into the national emergency system, as well as new legislation to prioritise emergency cases in all health facilities.
It concluded that the death of Charles Amissah was avoidable and resulted from delays and failures in emergency response across multiple points in the healthcare system.
