President John Dramani Mahama has pledged that no Ghanaian seeking medical care will be denied treatment due to the unavailability of hospital beds, declaring a zero-tolerance policy on the so-called “no bed syndrome”.
Speaking during the 2026 State of the Nation Address on February 27, he outlined both immediate measures and long-term infrastructure projects to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
“You don’t need to have a comfortable bed to save a patient. No patient must be turned away from any health facility they report to,” he said, stressing the importance of emergency care even under makeshift conditions.
President Mahama announced that the Ministry of Health will issue new guidelines to ensure all patients facing medical emergencies are received and treated promptly.
Interim measures will prioritise emergency response, while long-term plans focus on expanding hospital capacity through major construction and rehabilitation projects.
The President’s directives follow a widely reported incident on February 6, when a hit-and-run victim at Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra was refused emergency care by three major hospitals due to a lack of beds.
Despite rapid intervention by Emergency Medical Technicians, the 29-year-old victim, Charles Amissah, later died.
