Tony Goodman, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and a member of the investigative committee on the Ridge Hospital assault, has refuted claims regarding the credibility of the committee’s report.
These comments came in response to Jefferson Asare, Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) for Greater Accra, who suggested that key medical evidence was disregarded in the findings.
Goodman countered these assertions during an interview, stating, “That is not correct. We have spoken with everybody, including the doctor who saw the lady. He is a specialist, and this committee’s work cannot be rubbished”.
The final report from the investigative committee, which was submitted to Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, concluded that while there was no evidence of physical assault, a verbal dispute did occur between Mr. Ralph St. Williams and the hospital staff involved.
Concerning Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, the rotation nurse at the centre of the incident, the report noted that medical records showed no fractures or dislocations. She received treatment with pain medication and psychological support following the event.
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However, Jefferson Asare contested this finding, claiming that the attending physician diagnosed her with polycontusion, characterised by multiple bruises, swelling, and redness.
He argued that the absence of the doctor from the interview process compromised the report’s integrity.
In response to these concerns, Tony Goodman reiterated the thorough nature of the committee’s investigation, stressing that its focus was on enhancing healthcare systems rather than assigning blame.
“This is an extensive work that has been done. We are not looking at who is at fault… We are looking at how best we can strengthen our system,” he added.
