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Introduction
The recent assault of a rotation nurse, Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, at Ridge Hospital by a social media activist, Ralph Saint Williams, has drawn sharp public scrutiny, not only because of the alleged violence but also due to conflicting narratives about what happened and how it was handled. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and Ghana Medical Association (GMA) immediately condemned the incident, demanding accountability and protection for its members.
The Ministry of Health quickly announced a committee to investigate. (The timing followed criticism of the Minister’s initial handling of the case, including a contested handshake he received from the accused person.) Yet days later, questions remain: Who sat on the committee, what did they find, and did the process reflect the testimonies of all those involved? A close review of media reports, GRNMA statements, Ministry press briefings, and available hospital records reveals communication gaps, disputed facts, and lingering mistrust between health workers and authorities.
This report will take an in-depth look at the issue surrounding this controversy and the misunderstanding that is pitching the nurses association against the ministry.
Background
A social media activist, Ralph Saint Williams, is reported to have assaulted some nurses at the Ridge Hospital, accusing the hospital authorities of delays in attending to him.
A CCTV camera captured Ralph violating the privacy of the patients by capturing them live on social media, shouting and cursing at the workers at the hospital. He is also seen shoving one of the nurses who attempted to stop him from taking the videos.
One of the nurses claimed the social media activist assaulted her and suffered some injuries as a result.
The issue gained national attention with demands for an investigation into the controversy.
The sector minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, is accused of shielding the social media activist after a video of him went public in a hearty handshake with Ralph Williams.
Since then, the nurses’ association and other interest groups have increased their calls for the case to be investigated, which the minister obliged.
Committee Formation and Terms of Reference
The ministerial panel was established to investigate the controversy, and a report was submitted. According to press reports, the committee chaired by Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu began sittings on 20 Aug and concluded on 26 Aug, holding four formal meetings. Its official terms of reference (ToR) were to “establish the facts and present recommendations,” specifically by examining:
- Delay in care: Why (or if) the emergency patient’s care was delayed.
- Events leading to assault: The factors or events that escalated into the alleged assault on the nurse.
- Hospital security: The state of security in the emergency department at the time.
- Staffing levels: The number of doctors and nurses on duty during the incident.
Committee Membership
The investigative team was composed of government officials. Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, Director of the Institutional Care Division of the Ghana Health Service (and health-sector consultant), served as chair. Tony Goodman, the Ministry of Health’s spokesperson, was also on the panel. Local media notes that the panel had six to seven members drawn from government agencies.) The full list of members was not publicly released, but reports emphasise that all appointees were ministry or hospital representatives. Consumer advocate Kofi Kapito observed on GTV that the seven-member committee was made up entirely of government officials. No health union or independent members were reported to the team.
Committee Findings
The committee’s report (presented 27 Aug) found no evidence of fracture or dislocation in the nurse’s case. According to the panel’s medical review, Ms. Bortei reported pain the next day, but her hospital records showed “no evidence of fracture on her left wrist or dislocation of her right shoulder.” She was treated with pain relief, advised to rest, and given psychological support and was later discharged.
Beyond the injury itself, the committee documented broader system issues at Ridge Hospital:
- Delay in patient care: The report found no undue delay in attending to the injured patient (Ralph Williams). Instead, it identified equipment failures at the emergency department—all X-ray, CT, and MRI machines were out of service—which forced patient referrals and contributed to treatment delays.
- Verbal altercation but no proof of assault: Video footage and witnesses confirmed a heated verbal exchange between Mr. Williams (and companions) and staff, but no video or eyewitness account showed a physical attack on the nurse. The committee noted only that the nurse later complained of arm pain, with no objective injuries found. (In his own submissions, Ralph Williams denied striking any staff and blamed his frustration on verbal provocation by a nurse.)
- Security deficiencies: The panel found hospital security “grossly inadequate,” with typically only one private security officer per 12-hour shift in the emergency unit. A police post exists on the premises, but it is too far from the ER for quick response.
- Staffing shortages: Staffing was extremely thin at the time. In August 2025, the emergency unit had only one medical doctor per shift (plus one emergency specialist). Of 88 nurses assigned, only 54 were on duty, and 34 were vacant. The committee warned that such gaps heighten risks.
- Recommendations: The report urged stronger security (more guards, closer police links), recruitment of more clinical and support staff, repair of broken diagnostic equipment, and expansion of other hospitals to reduce pressure on Ridge.
In addition to the assault allegations, the nurse involved has reportedly claimed she sustained injuries, including a broken wrist or dislocated shoulder.
In summary, the panel concluded that the evidence did not support the nurse’s claim of a broken wrist or dislocated shoulder. Instead, it highlighted systemic failings (security, staffing, equipment) that contributed to the tense situation.
Alleged Doctor’s Diagnosis Note in the Ridge Hospital Assault Case
A document circulating on social media, purportedly from a medical officer at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, details that the assaulted nurse sustained multiple contusions on her forearm, chest, back, and shoulder, and was receiving treatment, including pain relief, cold compress, and a shoulder sling. However, DUBAWA cannot independently verify the authenticity of this document. Attempts to reach the Greater Accra Regional Hospital officials for confirmation have not yielded any response.
GRNMA and Other Reactions
GRNMA officials have rejected the committee report as incomplete and biased. Association chairperson Jefferson Asare stressed that assault can occur without visible fractures, saying,
“You do not need anyone to break his or her wrist before you establish an assault.” He also pointed out that the nurse’s medical director had initially cited a shoulder dislocation, and the panel never interviewed the doctor who examined the nurse on Aug 18. GRNMA notes that the attending physician’s diagnosis was “polycontusion” (multiple bruises with swelling), implying the committee should have discussed that finding. In Asare’s view, ignoring the doctor’s testimony and official diagnosis undermined the investigation’s credibility.
The Health Ministry disputes these criticisms. PRO Tony Goodman told the media that “we engaged everyone, including the doctor who assessed the nurse,” during the inquiry. He defended the committee’s thoroughness, saying the goal was not to assign blame but to strengthen the health system. Goodman insisted the process was impartial and all key witnesses and staff were interviewed. In public comments, he emphasised that the panel’s findings reflected hospital records and testimony, and that dissenting union claims were baseless.
Who was interviewed?
According to the committee’s account, it interviewed 13 individuals, plus hospital management, during its sittings. This presumably included on-duty doctors, nurses, administrators, the victim-nurse, and perhaps other staff involved that day. However, GRNMA disputes whether all relevant parties were heard. They point out that the senior medical officer who first saw the nurse the morning after the incident was not questioned.
The Ministry counters that the doctor was consulted. As Goodman stated, “We have spoken with everybody, including the doctor who saw the lady.” Thus, there is a direct conflict: the nurses’ union says a key witness was “sidelined,” while the MoH asserts “everyone” needed was interviewed.
Speaking to DUBAWA, Goodman said, “We spoke to every professional—nurse, medical officer, consultant, specialist, Head of Department, on that said day. We spoke to all of them, including the said doctor.”
“We spoke to the doctor who saw the lady. We spoke to the two of them the day we were doing that. We asked questions in their presence. The doctor would say, ‘It’s true, right?’ The lady didn’t deny. Disregard anybody who says we did not talk to them.”
DUBAWA could not independently verify the identity of the assaulted senior medical officer, as hospital authorities have not publicly disclosed the name, citing privacy concerns.
No independent record has been released to resolve this. However, it is clear, via written submissions and video, that the victim and involved staff (including Ralph Williams) were part of the probe.
Conclusion
In short, the Ridge Hospital investigative report (Aug 27, 2025) found no medical evidence supporting the nurse’s claim of a fracture or dislocation. It attributed delays to equipment failures and highlighted severe security and staffing gaps at the hospital. GRNMA remains dissatisfied, arguing the inquiry ignored some medical testimony and downplayed the assault allegation. The Ministry, in turn, maintains the probe was comprehensive and says the accused government official (the Health Minister’s handshake recipient) should not impede systemic fixes. At present, the parties dispute whether all appropriate witnesses were heard. GRNMA insists on full accountability and has called for further action. The government (via the Health Ministry) insists that its committee met its mandate and plans to implement its recommendations to improve hospital security and staffing.
