Committee Under Fire as Charles Owusu Condemns Decision to Free Ralph

On August 29, 2025, during Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show, Charles Owusu expressed strong dissatisfaction with the decision to free Ghanaian social activist Ralph St. Williams without punishment following an alleged assault at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital).

Owusu was disappointed with the investigative committee set up by the Ministry of Health, which concluded that there was no medical evidence to support claims of physical assault by Ralph on nurse Rejoice Tsotso Bortei. He argued that Ralph’s actions, including making threats and causing a disturbance at the hospital, constituted a crime, and he was surprised that the police did not arrest or question Ralph over these actions. Owusu questioned why the case was handled by a committee rather than the police, suggesting that this allowed Ralph to “walk with impunity.”

Charles Owusu’s comments on Kokrokoo reflect a broader sentiment of frustration with the handling of the case. He emphasized that issuing threats is a crime and questioned why Ralph faced no legal consequences for his actions at Ridge Hospital. Owusu’s critique of the committee suggests a belief that the investigation may have been inadequate or biased, allowing Ralph to evade accountability. His call for police involvement aligns with the GRNMA’s earlier demand for arrests following the incident, which saw some youths detained but no clear action against Ralph himself.

The incident occurred on August 17, 2025, at Ridge Hospital’s Emergency Department, where Ralph St. Williams, a social media activist known as Ralph De Fellow Ghanaian, was involved in a confrontation with hospital staff. According to reports, Ralph stormed the emergency ward with a group of riders, demanding immediate treatment for a critically ill patient with a suspected head injury.

A viral video showed heated exchanges between Ralph, his group, and hospital staff, with Ralph accusing the nurses of neglecting the patient. Nurse Rejoice Tsotso Bortei claimed she was physically assaulted by Ralph during the altercation, alleging injuries such as a dislocated shoulder and hand damage, which she said impaired her ability to perform her duties.

She also accused Ralph of defaming her by publicly dismissing her injuries as fabricated, citing comments like, “Liar, wo se wo nsam abu” (meaning “Liar, you say your hand is broken”).

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Following public outrage and concerns about violence against healthcare workers, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh established a committee, chaired by Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, to investigate the incident. The committee’s report, presented on August 27, 2025, found no medical evidence to support Bortei’s claims of a dislocated shoulder or fractures.

Medical records indicated that Bortei reported pain in her left hand a day after the incident (August 18), but examinations showed no fractures or dislocations. She was treated with pain relief, advised to rest, and offered psychological support. The committee confirmed a verbal altercation but found no video or eyewitness evidence of physical assault. It also highlighted systemic issues at the hospital, including non-functional diagnostic equipment (X-ray, CT scan, and MRI), inadequate security (only one private security officer per 12-hour shift), and a critical shortage of medical staff.

Despite the committee’s findings, Rejoice Tsotso Bortei filed a GH₵7 million civil lawsuit against Ralph St. Williams on August 20, 2025, at the High Court in Accra, seeking GH₵5 million for battery and GH₵2 million for defamation. The lawsuit claimed that Ralph physically attacked her, causing injuries that affected her professional duties, and that his public statements damaged her reputation.

Ralph Sued For GH₵7 Million By Nurse After Ridge Hospital Assault

The Greater Accra Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Jefferson Asare, criticized the committee’s report, arguing that it overlooked key evidence, such as the testimony of the doctor who diagnosed Bortei with polycontusion (multiple bruises, swelling, and redness). He questioned why the committee relied heavily on video footage provided by Ralph, given the absence of CCTV cameras in the trauma center, and suggested that the doctor’s findings of bruises and swelling were dismissed.

The Ministry of Health, through spokesperson Tony Goodman, defended the probe’s thoroughness, stating that the doctor was consulted and that the investigation was comprehensive. Ralph, in response, dismissed the lawsuit and accused Bortei of being coached to lie against him. He threatened to lead a large-scale demonstration if authorities did not prosecute hospital officials he claimed had conspired with Bortei to tarnish his reputation.

In a viral TikTok video, he demanded justice within 48 hours and highlighted systemic issues in Ghana’s healthcare system. Ralph also noted that a second individual involved in the incident was in police custody and called for their release.

The Public Relations Officer for Ridge Hospital nurses, Sarah Danquah, defended Bortei, suggesting that her shoulder may have been massaged at home before medical examination, potentially explaining the lack of evidence of dislocation. She also claimed to have video evidence of Ralph slapping a pregnant nurse, though this has not been independently verified.