In a sobering contribution to the Parliamentary comments regarding the tragic death of Charles Amisah, the Member of Parliament for Afadzato South, Frank Afriyie, has exposed a troubling culture of discrimination within Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.
Following a statement by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin on the “no-bed syndrome” that led to Amisah’s death after a hit-and-run incident, Afriyie shared a personal account that brought the gravity of the crisis to the floor of the House.
Frank Afriyie recounted an emergency where he lost consciousness at home and was rushed to a local hospital. Despite his condition, the facility initially refused to admit him. The situation only changed when his wife intervened, revealing his identity as a Member of Parliament.
He noted that this experience highlights a deep-seated discrimination in healthcare delivery, where access to life-saving treatment is often determined by social status rather than medical urgency.
He emphasized that quality healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for the elite or those from certain geographic backgrounds, but a right extended even to those from the most remote villages.
The MP argued that the “no-bed syndrome” is a direct symptom of poorly concentrated health facilities, particularly in Accra.
He stated that this centralization leads to overstretched medical professionals who are forced to manage an unsustainable volume of patients without the necessary equipment or tools. He highlighted that the lack of essential infrastructure in peripheral regions creates a bottleneck in the capital, further eroding public trust in the national health system.
While acknowledging the efforts made under previous administrations to expand healthcare infrastructure, Afriyie urged the current government to remain relentless in decentralized development. He called for a strategy that carries the public along to rebuild confidence in local institutions.
Regarding the specific investigation into the death of Charles Amisah, the MP expressed gratitude toward the Ministry and the Government for instituting a formal inquiry. However, he stressed the need for real-time results and decisive steps to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
