The Member of Parliament for Nanton, Dr Abdul-Khaliq Mohammed Sherif, has called for a parliamentary review of the report into the death of a 29-year-old man who was allegedly turned away by several major health facilities in Accra while seeking emergency medical treatment.
Dr Sherif urged that the report be formally presented to Parliament so that the House’s health committee can examine its findings and propose policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Ghana’s emergency medical response system.
Speaking to JoyNews on March 16, Dr Sherif said he had learned that the investigative report into the incident had recently been completed and submitted. He emphasised the need for the document to be forwarded to Parliament for scrutiny.
“I think just a few hours ago I read that the report has been submitted,” the Nanton MP stated.
He recalled that when the issue was previously raised on the floor of Parliament, the Speaker directed that the matter be referred to the parliamentary health committee once the Ministry of Health completed its investigation.
According to Dr Sherif, the committee should now be allowed to review the report and develop practical recommendations.
“When a similar statement was made on the floor, Mr. Speaker referred it to the health committee to be able to look at that report that will emanate from the ministry so that together we can have very good recommendations,” he explained.
The lawmaker said the report should be officially submitted to the Ministry of Health (Ghana) and subsequently referred to Parliament’s health committee.
He noted that the committee, which comprises both majority and minority members of Parliament, is well-positioned to conduct an objective and balanced assessment of the situation.
“Once the report is referred to the committee, the health committee—made up of both the majority and the minority—can dispassionately examine it and come up with policies that will ensure that no Ghanaian loses his or her life in an emergency simply because we say there is no bed,” he said.
The MP stressed that the goal of parliamentary oversight should be to prevent similar incidents in the future, particularly those involving delays or refusals of emergency medical care due to capacity constraints.
He indicated that after reviewing the report, the health committee would present its findings and recommendations to the full House for debate.
“Once a referral is made to the committee, when the committee looks at that particular referral, they definitely would have to bring their recommendations to the floor. That will be debated again, and then the necessary things accepted,” he stated.
The deceased, 29-year-old Charles Amissah, an engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited, sustained severe shoulder injuries in a hit-and-run accident at the Circle Overpass in Accra on February 6, 2026.
He was stabilised by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and prepared for transfer to a hospital for further treatment.
Reports indicate that Amissah was unable to secure admission at the Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital, and Korle Bu due to a lack of available beds. While at Korle Bu, he reportedly went into cardiac arrest.
Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered, efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was later pronounced dead.
Dr Sherif said the situation highlights the urgent need for reforms that will guarantee timely medical intervention during emergencies, regardless of logistical or institutional challenges.
He expressed hope that a thorough parliamentary review of the report would lead to concrete policy measures capable of strengthening Ghana’s emergency healthcare system and preventing avoidable deaths.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com