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The General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr David Tenkorang, has fired shots at Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh claiming he lacks education on the hospital’s triage system.
Speaking on Asempa FM on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Dr David Tenkorang was reacting to the Ministry of Health’s explanation on Ridge Hospital violence regarding the Health Minister’s visit to Ridge following the incident.
Dr David Tenkorang stated, “The most disgusting and infuriating thing is the second point; the minister should know that there are systems over there. If he doesn’t understand, he should get somebody to educate him on the triage system. It is such that you can’t say because you are the first person to show up, you should be taken care of. When you come, we will triage you and establish if your ailment requires immediate care or delayed care as compared to others.
“After assessing and we will establish that your situation requires immediate care, they will attend to you immediately. If it requires that you are placed on standby for others to be cared for, not that they will neglect you, they will give you first aid or whatever, but they will attend to other people who need immediate attention. So, that statement does not make sense to me at all; it doesn’t make sense. Whoever wrote that statement doesn’t even understand the hospital system. Why? Is he a farmer? What kind of life is that?” he fumed.
The General Secretary of GRNMA further fumed at the Health Minister’s interaction with Ralph after the Ridge incident.
He added, “What is even annoying is what the minister did. His statement runs contrary to his posture. You went there, and the same Ralph who had engaged in that act of hooliganism, you went there to embrace him. Look at the pictures on social media.
“He affectionately embraced the Ralph guy, somebody who has been fingered as the perpetrator of that heinous crime. He embraced him, and then the guy whispered into his ears, and he was smiling; whether it was a question or whatever, then he was smiling. How did the guy get to know that the minister had come there for him to rush there immediately?” he questioned.
Dr David Tenkorang further accused the Health Minister of being disrespectful towards nurses.
“I agree with you, but the man does not give respect to nurses. How can you treat nurses like this? It’s the clearest case of disrespect. You go and embrace the very guy, and look, initially he was being defended that he met the person before meeting the management. It’s not true. Look, if you show us respect, we will also show you respect. I mean, what is he trying to show us?” he added.
Meanwhile, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Health Minister, has said the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) calls for the Ralph Saint Williams and others who assaulted a nurse at Ridge Hospital to be fair.
The Health Minister noted that assault is a crime and that the law must take its course if there is an assault.
Also, Tony Goodman, the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, has jumped to the defence of the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
According to Tony Goodman, the Health Minister should be commended and not chastised for his handshake with Ralph William.
He further cautioned Ghanaians from picking bits and pieces of the facts concerning the Ridge Hospital assault.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Tony Goodman stated, “If we pick bits and pieces of the fact and put it as though shaking somebody in the hospital is all there is to this matter, or it is all that the minister has done, it is not fair”.
“On his way, a gentleman came. We cannot say that he knew him. He was later informed by the hospital management that the said gentleman was the perpetrator. The police arrived, and the guy fled; his accomplice was arrested. The minister’s words were clear—‘get the guy arrested,’” Goodman clarified.
“I am sure we should commend the minister for this, not chastise him for a handshake,” he concluded.
Background
The Ridge Hospital was thrown into confusion after a self-styled social activist, identified as Ralph St. Williams, stormed the emergency ward and filmed staff while accusing them of delaying treatment for his patient.
In a video that has since gone viral, Ralph is seen with blood on his hands, shouting at doctors and nurses for allegedly ignoring an accident victim he brought in. The footage, which also showed critically ill patients receiving treatment, has sparked concerns about patient privacy and hospital protocols.
According to Ralph, he had waited for over an hour without his ward being attended to. His actions, however, escalated into a heated confrontation, with witnesses reporting that a nurse was assaulted in the process. The hospital later confirmed that the Ghana Police Service had to be called in to restore order.
Additionally, a statement signed by Juliana Hariwa, Head of Public Relations, Ridge Hospital, explained that the incident happened during a period when clinicians were handling multiple emergencies at once. The statement said the activist, together with relatives of the patient, “invaded the emergency triage” in large numbers, disrupting service and creating unnecessary tension.
In addition, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest Ralph Saint Williams and others who assaulted a nurse at Ridge Hospital.
Watch the video below:
When you listen clearly to the General Secretary of GRNMA, you will realize he doesn't respect the health minister but if you have listened to him consistently, you would understand that he is paid to do bad PR against Hon Akandoh. He disrespects and insults the minister every… pic.twitter.com/Hf7ZzPGIjA
— KOJO DYNAMIC 𓃵 (@AnnanPerry) August 20, 2025