President John Dramani Mahama has declared a zero-tolerance stance on the long-standing “no bed syndrome”, insisting that every Ghanaian who seeks medical attention must be attended to. Speaking during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Friday, 27 February, he outlined immediate directives and long-term infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery nationwide.
In order to guarantee that people experiencing medical emergencies are accepted and treated, even in temporary settings when required, the President declared that the Ministry of Health would release new rules. “You don’t need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient,” he said. “No patient must be turned away from any health facility they report to.”
President Mahama emphasised intentions to increase healthcare capacity through significant construction and restoration projects around the nation, even though emergency treatment will be given priority in interim measures.
Key Health Infrastructure Projects
Greater Accra Region: Implementation of the Ridge Hospital Phase Two Project to increase bed capacity at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. Ongoing National Projects: Completion of the Police Hospital Project and the La General Hospital. Ashanti Region: Completion of the Serwaa Regional Hospital, Afari Military Hospital, and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity and Children’s Block.
President Mahama stated that his administration is committed to building a healthcare system where no citizen is denied care, regardless of time, location, or the severity of the emergency, by tying hospital expansion to stricter emergency response rules. President Mahama stated that his administration is committed to building a healthcare system where no citizen is denied care, regardless of time, location, or the severity of the emergency, by tying hospital expansion to stricter emergency response rules.
The President’s order comes after a well-publicised event on Friday, February 6, 2026, in which three major hospitals allegedly rejected emergency care to a victim of a hit-and-run accident at the Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra because there were no open beds. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from the National Ambulance Service received a walk-in call at about 10:32 pm to attend to a road traffic crash at the Circle Overpass. They mobilised within three minutes and arrived at the scene by 10:35 pm.
EMT staff allegedly negotiated with three hospitals between then and around 12:50 am to either admit the victim or treat them in the ambulance. The victim passed away as a result of the failed attempts. He was later identified as 29-year-old Charles Amissah, an engineer with Promasidor Ghana Limited at the North Industrial Area in Accra, producers of Cowbell milk and other food products.
