How Afadjato South MP Was Denied a Hospital Bed Until Staff Learned He Was an MP
- Afadjato South MP Frank Afriyie detailed his special treatment at a hospital once, highlighting discrimination in Ghana's healthcare system
- The Member of Parliament is also concerned about the overconcentration of health facilities in Accra and the pressures on medical staff
- Parliament was discussing the death of 29-year-old Charles Amissah after three government hospitals allegedly denied him emergency care
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The Afadjato South Member of Parliament, Frank Afriyie, has recounted how his status as an MP got him special treatment at a hospital.
He disclosed in Parliament that he was initially denied a hospital bed after collapsing at home and being rushed to a health facility.
Source: Facebook
According to the legislator, as captured on Facebook, health workers only attended to him after his wife informed them that he was an MP.
MP Afriyie stated that this highlighted a discriminatory layer of the so-called 'no-bed syndrome'.
"...The discrimination they offer tends to make you and I, Speaker, be victims before the general public."
The MP argued that, beyond infrastructure challenges, discrimination by some health professionals may be contributing to public frustration with the healthcare system.
Afriyie also pointed to the over-concentration of health infrastructure in Accra as a major contributing factor to the pressure on facilities.
MP comments amid death of Charles Amissah
Afriyie's submission came as Parliament discussed the death of Charles Amissah after three government hospitals denied him emergency care.
The Ambulance Service outlined the final hours of the Ghanaian man's life following his road accident at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange.
Amissah had previously gone viral as a missing person before his death was announced by his loved ones on social media.
He was an engineer working at Promasidor Ghana Limited in the North Industrial Area in Accra and was involved in a road accident at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass on February 6.
Source: UGC
However, after hours of attempts to secure emergency care following his transportation by ambulance, he was reportedly told that there were no beds available at the three major hospitals he visited.
The hospitals that allegedly denied him care were the Police Hospital, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Health workers interdicted after Charles Amissah's death
The management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital took action against four members of its medical staff over their alleged failure to provide emergency care to a patient who recently died at the facility.
In a statement issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, the management of Korle-Bu stated that two doctors and two nurses had been interdicted following the incident.
The statement further mentioned that a committee had been formed to investigate the events leading to the patient’s death.
Charles Amissah's colleagues mourn him
YEN.com.gh also reported that Promasidor Ghana staff held a vigil in honour of Amissah, a man denied care by three hospitals.
The vigil was characterised as sombre as family and friends paid their respects to the departed amid calls for accountability.
Ghanaians on social media shared their thoughts on the demise of Amissah after seeking treatment, and consoled his family.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
