The Greater Accra branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has strongly defended the medical assessment of a nurse allegedly assaulted at Ridge Hospital, accusing the Health Ministry’s investigative committee of downplaying a legitimate diagnosis.
The committee, established by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and chaired by Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, reported on August 27 that there was no evidence of a shoulder dislocation or fracture in the case of Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, a rotation nurse involved in the incident. According to the findings, medical records showed only that the nurse was given pain relief, advised bed rest, and placed under psychological care.
But the Greater Accra GRNMA Chairman, Jefferson Asare, rejected aspects of the report, warning that its conclusions risk undermining the credibility of medical professionals.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Point of View, Mr. Asare clarified that the official diagnosis by a Ridge Hospital doctor was polycontusion—a condition marked by multiple bruises, swelling, redness, and pain at the site of impact.
“The diagnosis of the lady at the time was polycontusion. That is a clinical term which carries specific meaning. So, do they want to tell us that the doctor who did the diagnosis doesn’t know what he or she is doing?” he asked.
He stressed that ignoring the diagnosis could send a dangerous signal that the professional judgment of frontline medical staff is not taken seriously, particularly in sensitive cases where the welfare of health workers is at stake.
Mr. Asare insisted that the debate should not reduce the nurse’s experience to semantics but rather recognize the medical basis of her condition and ensure accountability for the alleged assault.
“The findings should not dismiss the reality of what happened, nor should they undermine the credibility of the medical professionals who first attended to the victim,” he added.
The dispute has reignited calls for more transparent investigative processes that prioritize firsthand medical evidence in cases involving alleged attacks on health workers.
