The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has confirmed an overcrowding incident at the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, dismissing claims that viral footage of the situation was artificially generated.
In a statement, the Association said independent checks and eyewitness accounts verified that the incident captured in the widely circulated video did occur, contradicting suggestions by hospital management that it was the product of artificial intelligence.
The footage showed patients seated on chairs and lying on the floor at the facility, raising concerns about conditions at one of the country’s premier referral hospitals.
The GMA criticised the attempt to downplay the incident, warning that such responses undermine public trust and distract from addressing the real challenges facing emergency healthcare delivery.
“Checks at the Korle-Bu Accident and Emergency Department and subsequent eyewitness accounts confirmed that the incident did actually occur,” the statement noted.
The Association acknowledged that overcrowding during patient surges is not uncommon but cautioned that recent administrative directives may have worsened the situation.
It further warned that poorly assessed decisions in the healthcare system could pose serious risks to patient safety and the quality of care.
“The video exposes the danger of issuing directives without a comprehensive assessment… resulting in unintended risks to patient safety,” the GMA stated.
To address the situation, the Association proposed several measures, including the introduction of digitised bed-tracking systems, improved coordination between hospitals, effective back-referral mechanisms, and expanded capacity at district and regional health facilities.
The GMA also called for comprehensive surge planning to better manage periods of high patient inflow.
It reiterated its readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions aimed at ensuring timely and safe emergency care.
