President John Dramani Mahama has vowed to tackle the longstanding “no bed syndrome” in Ghanaian hospitals, pledging that all patients facing medical emergencies will be attended to, even under makeshift conditions.

His comments follows the tragic death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah, who died after being turned away from multiple hospitals due to a lack of beds, has sparked deep reflection on Ghana’s healthcare system.

Speaking in Parliament during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Mahama stressed that lifesaving care should never be contingent on the availability of a comfortable bed.

“You don’t need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient,” he declared.
“No patient must be turned away from any health facility they report to. Patients facing medical emergencies must be received and given help, even under makeshift conditions.”

To address chronic shortages in healthcare capacity, the President announced a series of expansion projects, beginning with the Ridge Hospital Phase Two Project, which is set to increase bed numbers at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

“In the meantime, government will expand capacity by implementing the Ridge Hospital Phase Two Project,” he added.

He further outlined ongoing and planned hospital projects across the country:

• Police Hospital – continuation and completion.
• La General Hospital – continuation and completion.
• Serwaa Regional Hospital in the Ashanti Region – completion.
• Afari Military Hospital – completion.
• Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity and Children’s Block – completion.

President Mahama said that the Ministry of Health is expected to issue guidelines aimed at eliminating the “no bed syndrome” nationwide, ensuring that emergency patients are received promptly regardless of available infrastructure.

“The Ministry of Health is expected to issue guidelines to eliminate the unacceptable ‘no bed syndrome,’” he said.