Gomoa Ojobi incident: It is inhumane – Richard Ahiagbah

On June 16, 2024, 5:08 AM

The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has described as inhumane the alleged dumping of a patient in a bush at Gomoa Ojobi in the Central Region.

Reports indicate that the frail and immobile old woman was dumped with her wheelchair on Tuesday, June 11, 2023, at around 8:30 pm.

Both legs of the woman were in a Plaster of Paris (POP) cast as she remained motionless.

According to a police source, the victim was on admission and receiving treatment at the Winneba Trauma Hospital after being involved in an accident.

The patient had suffered not only two broken legs but also mental health issues as a consequence of the accident.

However, the hospital discharged the patient and allegedly abandoned her in a bush after failing to identify her family members.

Some community members said that even though they could not see the inscription on the ambulance due to bad visibility, they suspect the vehicle came from a health facility in Winneba.

She died on Thursday morning, and her body has been conveyed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital morgue.

Commenting on the incident, Mr Ahiagba said health professionals are expected to show compassion since they are trained to care for the sick.

Hence, for the same professionals to be alleged to have carried an accident victim from the hospital to dump in a bush is worrying.

“I find it completely inhumane what picture is rolling on our screens. I can’t understand it,” he said.

He further urged the Ghana Health Service to expedite investigations into the matter.

“Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health must act and do something about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has asked the Medical Director of the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba to step aside amid ongoing investigations into the incident.

READ ALSO: Medical Director Asked To Step Aside As GHS Investigates Abandoned Patient Incident

This decision follows an emergency meeting held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at the GHS Headquarters.

The meeting included the Medical Director, who acknowledged the incident but disputed certain details reported by the media.

To ensure a comprehensive investigation, GHS has formed a committee to examine the incident thoroughly.

The committee includes the Deputy Director-General of GHS, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon from the Ridge Hospital, representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Social Welfare Department, and a senior Nurse Manager.

To prevent any potential influence on the investigation and ensure unfettered access to all relevant information, GHS has decided to relieve the Medical Director of his duties temporarily.