The committee investigating the recent incident at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) has revealed that none of the hospital’s key diagnostic imaging machines were functional at the time.

This development is said to have caused treatment delays and contributed to public frustration.

The findings, presented to Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, noted that the Emergency Department’s X-ray, CT scan, and MRI machines were all out of service when the alleged assault on a nurse occurred on August 17, 2025.

Although the committee confirmed there was no delay in initially attending to the patient with a suspected head injury, it said subsequent referrals outside the facility for imaging severely slowed care.

“The unavailability of diagnostic equipment meant tests had to be conducted outside GARH, leading to delays in treatment and heightening tensions among those present,” the report stated.

The situation at the Emergency Department, already operating at near full capacity daily, has further strained healthcare delivery, as Ridge has become the primary referral point following the closure of the La General Hospital.

As part of its recommendations, the committee urged the Ministry of Health to immediately repair or replace all non-functional imaging equipment at Ridge Hospital, stressing that the lack of basic diagnostic support undermines emergency care and erodes public confidence in the facility.

Meanwhile, the committee also concluded that there is no medical evidence to support claims that Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, a rotation nurse at the facility, sustained a shoulder dislocation during the incident.

The nurse had complained about fractures in her wrist and a dislocation in her shoulder joint.

Rejoice Tsotso Bortei subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against social media personality Ralph Saint Williams, seeking GHs7 million in damages for alleged physical assault and defamation linked to the incident.

• Read also: Ridge Hospital nurse sues social media activist Ralph Saint Williams for GH₵7m over assault and defamation

Explaining the findings, the Committee Chairman, Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, revealed that the nurse reported her injuries on August 18, a day after the alleged assault.

But medical assessment, however, revealed "There was no evidence of fracture on her left wrist or dislocation of her right shoulder joint as documented by the medical records."

The report confirmed that the nurse was treated, provided with pain relief medication, and advised to rest.

She was also placed under psychological support care to aid her recovery.

In her lawsuit, the nurse stated that in the course of treating other patients, she was struck by Mr. Williams with a clenched fist and a metallic cellphone before being attacked by the activist and his alleged followers.

She suffered injuries to her arm, shoulder, waist, and other parts of her body and has since been experiencing chest pains, severe headaches, and trauma, including panic attacks.

Ms. Bortei further accused Mr. Williams of later publishing a live video in which he called her a liar and claimed she had fabricated her injuries to “cover the nonsense going on at the hospital.”

She argues that the comments damaged her reputation as a professional nurse, casting her as untrustworthy and unfit to practice.

Beyond damages, the plaintiff is also seeking a court order compelling Mr. Williams to issue a public retraction and apology, an injunction restraining him from publishing further defamatory statements, and another injunction preventing him from coming within 50 meters of her.