Nurses demand urgent security reforms after Ridge Hospital assault

The Chairman of the Greater Accra Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Jefferson Asare, has called for stronger internal security measures at healthcare facilities following the recent assault on a nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital).

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, August 23, Asare clarified that the association is not calling for the permanent deployment of police officers to hospitals, but stressed that systems must exist to ensure rapid law enforcement response when threats emerge.

“We don’t advocate that police should be stationed with us at the hospital. But at least, there should be some level of protection. At the blink of an eye, police should be able to respond. That is what we are calling for,” he said.

He described the current internal security arrangements at Ridge and other hospitals as inadequate, leaving staff exposed during emergencies or confrontations with aggressive patients or relatives.

“Internal security measures must be heightened. Security should know who to allow into the emergency sector and how to manage access. You can’t leave nurses to handle crowd control. Police should act as a buffer, not be stationed in the hospital, but be on standby for immediate intervention,” Asare added.

The comments follow a violent incident on August 17 at Ridge Hospital’s emergency department, where nurse Rejoice Tsotso Bortei was allegedly assaulted by a patient’s relative. The attack, captured on video, has since gone viral and sparked nationwide outrage.

Tensions escalated further after footage showed Health Minister Mintah Akandoh exchanging pleasantries with the alleged suspect during a visit to the hospital—a moment widely criticised for seemingly downplaying the severity of the assault. The video emerged shortly after the minister met with hospital management to address the incident.

Meanwhile, Bortei has filed a GHS 7 million civil lawsuit against Ralph St. Williams, the individual accused of the assault, citing physical assault and defamation.