For nearly three hours on Friday, February 6, 2026, a victim of a hit-and-run incident at the Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra was reportedly refused emergency care by three major hospitals due to the unavailability of beds, before he died.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from the National Ambulance Service received a walk-in call at 10:32 p.m. to attend to a road traffic crash at the Circle Overpass. The ambulance mobilised at 10:33 p.m. and arrived at the scene by 10:35 p.m.
The victim, later identified as 29-year-old Charles Amissah, an engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited at the North Industrial Area, was found lying supine on the road with profuse bleeding from a deep shoulder laceration.
According to a situational report (SITREP) sighted by Graphic Online, EMTs controlled the bleeding with gauze bandages, applied a cervical collar, log-rolled him onto a spine board, and administered oxygen at four litres per minute. His vital signs were monitored every five minutes. Initial assessment showed: BP 120/90 mmHg, pulse 100 bpm, respiratory rate 25 bpm, SpO₂ 99%, and temperature 36.4°C.
At 10:40 p.m., the ambulance transported him to the Police Hospital, arriving at 10:43 p.m., but he was reportedly turned away due to lack of bed space. The crew then proceeded to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), arriving at 10:58 p.m., where he was again refused for the same reason.
At 11:20 p.m., the ambulance arrived at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. The crew was advised to transfer the patient to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC). However, due to the deterioration of his condition, the EMTs objected to further transport, warning that continued movement could endanger him. Despite negotiations lasting about 30 minutes, the patient was not admitted, and no hospital staff reportedly attended to him or took vital signs.
While still in the ambulance, the victim went into cardiac arrest. EMTs immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but he showed no response. He was later pronounced dead by a doctor on duty at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, who directed that the body be conveyed to the mortuary.
The body was handed over to the appropriate authority at 12:53 a.m., and the crew returned to base at 2:33 a.m.
Mr Amissah had reportedly closed from work and was riding home to Adenta on a red motorcycle when the hit-and-run occurred.
His family, unaware of the incident, reported him missing at the Adenta Police Station after he failed to return home. It was not until Monday, February 9, 2026, that they were contacted by the Nima Police Station and later confirmed at the Korle Bu mortuary that the deceased was their relative.
Speaking to Graphic Online, his sister said he had recently acquired the motorcycle to ease his commute between Adenta and the North Industrial Area.
Source: Graphiconline
