Sister of late Amissah Sues Three Major Hospitals, Health Workers and AG Over Brother’s Death; seeks GH¢20m in damages
A medical doctor, Dr Matilda Amissah, has filed a lawsuit against three major hospitals in Accra, several health workers, and the Attorney-General, seeking GH¢20 million in damages over the death of her brother following a road accident.
Dr Amissah alleges that negligence and systemic failures by medical personnel contributed to the death of 29-year-old Charles Henry Amissah, an electronic and automation engineer at Promasidor Ghana Limited, in February 2026.
The case has once again brought the long-standing issue of “No Bed Syndrome” where critically ill patients are reportedly turned away from hospitals due to lack of space into national focus.
According to court documents filed at the Accra High Court, Mr Amissah was involved in a hit-and-run accident on the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass on February 6. His family reported him missing after he failed to return home. Four days later, police informed them that an unidentified accident victim had been taken to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Dr Amissah said the family later found her brother’s body in a decomposed state outside a cold room at the hospital mortuary.
The lawsuit claims that the National Ambulance Service first rushed Mr Amissah to the Ghana Police Hospital, where staff allegedly refused him treatment due to unavailability of beds. Despite heavy bleeding, no immediate stabilisation was provided.
He was subsequently transferred to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge, where emergency treatment was allegedly declined for the same reason. He was later taken to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where medical staff reportedly failed to attend to him on the stretcher despite repeated appeals from ambulance officers.
Mr Amissah suffered cardiac arrest shortly before 1:00 am and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
The statement of claim argues that he remained alive for over two hours while being moved between the three hospitals, and that timely medical intervention could have saved his life. A post-mortem examination listed severe blood loss, fractures, and traumatic injuries as the cause of death.
Dr Amissah accuses the hospitals and medical personnel of gross negligence, including failure to conduct emergency triage, stabilise the patient, and provide urgent care.
The lawsuit follows the findings of a government-appointed investigative committee chaired by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa. The committee concluded that failures by medical personnel at all three hospitals contributed to the engineer’s death and stated that earlier intervention could have saved his life.
The committee’s report highlighted weaknesses in emergency response procedures and coordination between hospitals, and recommended disciplinary action against some of the health workers involved, as well as broader reforms in Ghana’s emergency healthcare system.
The defendants have eight days from the date of service of the writ to file their defence, failing which a default judgment may be entered against them.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
