Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, has said nobody needs to remind him of his farming background.
Mintah Akandoh boldly emphasised that he is a proud farmer.
According to Mintah Akandoh, the notion that only a person with medical training is qualified to serve as health minister is misplaced.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Mintah Akandoh stated, “I understand, on the lighter note, I have been reminded of the fact that I am a farmer. Yes, nobody needs to remind me. I am a proud farmer, and everybody knows it. Until my appointment, I was one of the largest rice farmers in this country. I am proud of that”.
“Please, we have a lot to deliver, and some of these things will not divert our attention. We will continue to do our best for Mother Ghana,” he stressed.
The Health Minister further described the remarks about his professional background as a distraction meant to divert his attention from Ghana’s health sector challenges.
Mintah Akandoh further defended his handshake with social media activist Ralph St. William, who has been fingered in the Ridge Hospital assault.
According to Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, his handshake with Ralph St. William was not an endorsement of the alleged assault but an act of courtesy.
The Health minister emphasised that the fact that he shook hands with him does not mean he would stop any measures taken by the government to unravel the situation.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated, “After we finished the meeting with the hospital management, I put together a committee to investigate the matter in question. So, after that meeting, we came outside, and my attention was drawn to a gentleman who I was told was at the centre of the controversy.
“So, on approaching me, I asked, ‘Why did you do what you did?’ When I asked, the gentleman stretched his hand, shook me, and attempted to whisper something into my ear. At this point, should I push him away, snub him, or shout at him? Even if that guy has been prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment, if he stretches his hand to shake me, as a minister and as a public officer, I have a duty to greet him back,” he said.
“The fact that I shook hands with him does not mean I should stop any measures the ministry or government will take to unravel the situation,” he stressed.
His comment comes on the back of the General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr David Tenkorang, firing shots at Ghana’s Health Minister, 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.