Ghana Registered Nurses condemn ‘barbaric’ attack on fellow nurses at Ridge Hospital

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives’ Association (GRNMA) has strongly condemned the “unprovoked and barbaric” attack on nurses and healthcare workers at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s Emergency Unit, also known as Ridge Hospital, which occurred on Sunday, 17th August 2025.

The incident prompted an emergency meeting of the Association’s National Executive Committee, and subsequently, the GRNMA leadership expressed its shock and dismay at the incident in a press statement.

The leadership emphasized that the violence perpetrated against “dedicated healthcare professionals who were working tirelessly amidst the inherent system challenges is both shocking and unacceptable.”

The statement also underscored the vital role of nurses, who “serve on the frontlines of our healthcare system, often risking their well-being to provide essential health services, especially during times of crisis.”

Moreover, the Association warned that such aggression poses a significant threat to the foundation of the healthcare system, asserting that “incidents of aggression towards medical staff undermine not only their safety but also the overall quality of care within our healthcare institutions.”

The GRNMA is calling for immediate action, urging the hospital’s management to “strengthen security at the hospital at all times and safeguard the privacy of healthcare professionals and patients.”

A direct appeal was made to the Ghana Police Service to “act swiftly in arresting the perpetrators and to apprehend any perpetrators for the harm caused on the health professionals and our nurses at the hospital without fail.” The statement cautioned that failure to do so would lead to “further actions by the leadership of the Association to ensure nurses working at the hospital, especially the Emergency Unit, are safe.”

Additionally, the GRNMA is requesting management to “work in conjunction with law enforcement to resolve the issue at hand.” Finally, the GRNMA is appealing to the public to “demonstrate appreciation and respect for the vital contributions of nurses and all healthcare professionals,” reiterating that “quality healthcare services can only be delivered in a secure environment.”