National Ambulance Service Raises Alarm Over ‘No-Bed Syndrome’ After Hit-and-Run Victim Turned Away from Multiple Hospitals
The Deputy Director of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Simmons Yussif Kewura, has highlighted the severe challenges posed by Ghana’s persistent “no-bed syndrome” following the tragic death of 29-year-old Charles Amissah, who was allegedly denied admission at three major hospitals after a hit-and-run accident.
The incident, which has sparked widespread public outrage, occurred when Amissah sustained critical injuries in a hit-and-run collision at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra. NAS personnel responded promptly, stabilised the victim at the scene, and transported him first to the Police Hospital, then to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), and finally to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. At each facility, he was reportedly turned away due to a lack of available beds—a recurring issue commonly referred to as “no-bed syndrome.”
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Kewura described the situation as a major barrier to effective emergency medical response. He explained that the primary mandate of ambulance crews is to provide on-scene stabilisation and safely convey patients to health facilities for definitive care.
“Everything boils down to the no-bed syndrome. We do not provide holistic medical care. Ours is to ensure the person gets to the facility for proper treatment. So if we get there and there is no bed, it makes our work very difficult,” he stated.
The deputy director emphasised that while the National Ambulance Service remains fully committed to saving lives, its frontline efforts are repeatedly undermined by hospitals’ inability to admit emergency cases. He called on health authorities to urgently implement sustainable, long-term solutions to expand bed capacity, improve emergency ward management, and strengthen coordination between pre-hospital and hospital-based care.
The death of Charles Amissah has reignited national debate over Ghana’s emergency healthcare system, with critics pointing to chronic underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and overburdened tertiary facilities as root causes of the “no-bed” crisis. Similar incidents in recent years have seen patients—particularly trauma and accident victims—facing life-threatening delays or denials of care.
The Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health have yet to issue an official statement on this specific case, but authorities have previously acknowledged the systemic challenges and pledged investments in additional hospital beds, regional trauma centres, and improved ambulance-to-hospital protocols.
The National Ambulance Service continues to urge the public to exercise caution on the roads and to report emergencies promptly, while stressing the need for collective action to address capacity constraints that hinder timely life-saving interventions.
The tragic loss of Charles Amissah serves as a stark reminder of the urgent reforms required to make Ghana’s emergency medical system more responsive and effective.
