The Speaker of Ghana’s 9th Parliament – Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin Sumana Kingsford as at 24th February, 2026, urged law makers to pass an “emergency care law” into the constitution to prevent the persistent “no bed syndrome” usually informed by health professionals at various hospitals. The speaker advised and requested parliamentarians to enact this “law,” because, just recently, Charles Amissah a 29-year-old engineer had passed away, as a result of two doctors and two nurses denied him an emergency care services at Korle-Bu teaching hospital.
According to Bagbin, the persistent and consistent excuses of “no bed” from some health professionals, to neglect patients during critical health situations, is becoming intentional and outrageous in the public domain. He addressed that over the past, similar issues have circulated in the media with no remorse from these health professionals or any law to hold them accountable and responsible for the negligence in causing people’s death. Which is why, the situation is continually recurring. As such, a law needs to be passed to hold health professionals accountable or possibly face penalties or imprisonment if they toy with human lives, hence forward.
From recounts, speaker added that this young guy called Charles Amissah was sent to three different hospitals including – Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Yet, none of these health professionals at the aforementioned hospitals had empathy to render an emergency care service to Charles, leading to his death. This is very inhumane, he fumed.
Afadjato South Member of Parliament – Frank Afriyie on the other hand, also described how he went unconscious to fall instantly in his room whilst preparing for an interview; which his younger brother heard him fell and together with his wife rushed him to a hospital. However upon getting there, nurses were just reluctant in assisting him with medication or whatsoever. His younger brother who felt ignored or neglected by these nurses, rushed in again to inform them of an emergency assistance. But this time around, one of the nurses boldly told his brother to send him (Frank) to another hospital. It had to take the intervention of his wife to inform them that, Frank is an MP; before, they began to rush in, in their numbers to render a service. From Frank, the negligence attitude on the part of health professionals has do with discrimination and all health facilities must be under comprehensive surveillance with laws to curb the situation, hence forward.