The Greater Accra Regional Hospital, popularly known as Ridge Hospital, has responded to a viral social media video that depicted a confrontation between its emergency ward staff and a group that included a well-known social media activist.
The altercation arose from alleged delays in treating a critically injured patient, leading to a heated exchange and even the assault of a nurse, which compelled the hospital management to involve the Ghana Police Service to restore order.
In an official statement from Juliana Hariwa, the Head of Public Relations, the hospital confirmed that the incident occurred while clinicians were managing multiple emergencies.
It was reported that relatives and friends of the accident victims “invaded the emergency triage,” creating disturbances that temporarily interrupted services.
The statement noted, “Their overwhelming presence disrupted the smooth delivery of care, caused unnecessary tension, and even threatened the safety of our clinicians,” the statement read.
It further condemned the assault on staff as “unacceptable,” emphasising that such actions “put lives at risk”.
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Ridge Hospital reiterated its commitment to “quality and timely healthcare” but called on the public to avoid recording in clinical areas without consent, stressing the importance of privacy.
Although the statement did not directly address the activist’s claims of negligence, it stressed the need for “cooperation and mutual respect” to maintain a safe environment for both patients and healthcare workers.
This incident has ignited a discussion regarding the balance between patient rights and the safety of medical staff within Ghana’s overburdened public health system.
