Accra: The February 24, 2026, session of Ghana's Parliament was marked by Speaker Alban Bagbin's vocal displeasure towards Deputy Health Minister Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah during discussions about the alleged denial of medical care to 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah, following a hit-and-run incident. The session focused on the recurring 'no-bed syndrome' in the country's health sector, with parliamentarians suggesting preventive measures for similar future occurrences.
According to Ghana Web, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah attributed the current healthcare challenges to the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, highlighting that none of the Agenda 111 hospitals became operational after their eight-year governance. She indicated that the present administration inherited numerous incomplete projects nationwide.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah stated, "I'm not engendering debates; I'm just trying to explain the circumstances. Mr. Speaker, Agenda 111, at the end of eight years, there was not one single hospital that was operational." She added that public funds were extensively spent on these projects, with the Auditor-General surcharging 35 contractors for GHS7.9 million due to inefficiencies.
However, Speaker Bagbin interrupted, urging her to concentrate on the immediate matter at hand, which was the lack of available hospital beds that led to the incident involving Charles Amissah. He emphasized that discussions should remain focused on resolving the 'no bed syndrome' and not stray into unrelated political discourse.
Bagbin, drawing from his previous experience as a Deputy Minister of Health, acknowledged the complexity of the health system's challenges and reaffirmed the formation of a committee to investigate the issue thoroughly. He stressed the importance of addressing the real issue of unavailable hospital beds and urged Parliament to take the investigation seriously.
The session concluded with a commitment to examine the situation deeply, ensuring that the necessary measures are implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.