Parliament Proposes Emergency Care Law

The Late Charles Amissah

 

Parliament has resolved to deepen investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 29-year-old accident victim, Charles Amissah, allegedly turned away by multiple health facilities in Accra, with the Speaker calling for urgent legislative reforms to prevent similar tragedies.

Presiding over proceedings yesterday, Speaker Alban S.K. Bagbin directed the Parliamentary Health Committee to undertake a comprehensive inquiry into the incident and review all reports from the Ministry of Health and affected institutions, including the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

He stressed that Parliament must take a proactive role in establishing the facts, holding responsible persons accountable and proposing systemic solutions.

Describing the death as one of several “needless losses” recorded in the country’s healthcare system, the Speaker urged lawmakers to consider enacting a dedicated emergency care law to guarantee immediate treatment for critically ill patients irrespective of facility constraints.

He acknowledged the challenging conditions under which health personnel operate but maintained that isolated acts of neglect should not be tolerated.

The debate was triggered by a statement from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who recounted the case of Charles Amissah, reportedly injured in a hit-and-run accident at the Circle Overpass on February 9, 2026.

According to him, the victim was stabilised by the Ghana National Ambulance Service but was allegedly denied admission at three hospitals due to reported bed shortages before suffering cardiac arrest.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin called for bipartisan cooperation in addressing what he described as a catastrophic failure of the health system, urging the Health Committee to summon hospital managers, review triage records and determine whether existing directives prohibiting denial of emergency care were breached.

Deputy Health Minister, Grace Ayensu-Danquah, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and confirmed that the Ministry had constituted a committee to investigate the incident.

She described the case as a “never event” in medical practice and disclosed that preliminary inquiries had begun, with some personnel reportedly interdicted pending further findings.

However, her remarks referencing broader systemic challenges drew objections from Minority members, including the Ofoase-Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who cautioned against politicising the tragedy and emphasised the need for an independent and credible investigation focused on accountability and reforms.

The Afadjato South MP, Frank Afriyie, highlighted concerns about discrimination in emergency response and the concentration of health infrastructure in urban centres, while Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stressed that Parliament bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring adequate healthcare systems and oversight.

Mr. Ayariga, in particular, recounted a personal near-death experience to underscore the importance of effective emergency healthcare delivery, insisting that life-saving systems must function equally for all citizens.

He told the House he once survived a serious incident after sustaining internal injuries in a crash in the northern part of the country in the early hours of the morning.

Despite appearing physically unharmed, he said the impact left him concerned about possible internal bleeding and desperate to reach medical care.

He narrated how villagers travelling in a market vehicle attempted to help transport him before a passing pickup from Navrongo Medical Centre stopped and conveyed him to Tamale for treatment.

Upon arrival, health personnel were ready to attend to him, leading to emergency surgery and blood transfusion that doctors later said saved his life.

“The emergency ward worked for me, and it must work for everybody,” he stressed, arguing that access to immediate care should never depend on circumstance or status.

Mr. Ayariga called for accountability in cases where patients are denied emergency treatment and urged Parliament to closely monitor ongoing investigations, emphasising that lawmakers bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring responsive healthcare systems nationwide.

 

By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House

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