No bed syndrome is a national shame’ – Godwin Mahama demands accountability over patient’s death

Godwin Mahama, Government Spokesperson and Corporate Affairs Officer of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has condemned the circumstances that led to the death of a gentleman allegedly due to the persistent “no bed syndrome,” describing the situation as a national disgrace.

Reacting to the incident on Kessben Maakye, Mahama said anyone whose actions or inactions contributed to the death must “bow their heads in shame,” stressing that alternative measures could have been explored to save the victim’s life.

According to him, nearly 70 years after independence, Ghana should not still be grappling with basic healthcare challenges such as the unavailability of hospital beds.

“The issue of no bed syndrome is a shame to us as a nation,” he stated, adding that while the country continues to battle bed shortages, equal attention must be paid to upgrading healthcare infrastructure and improving service delivery.

Mahama also referenced the previous government’s flagship hospital initiative, Agenda 111, arguing that if it had fully been completed, the country would by now have 16 fully functional regional hospitals and several other health facilities nationwide to ease the burden on existing hospitals.

He cautioned politicians against initiating numerous projects without clear plans to complete them, accusing some of using such projects merely to win votes.

“Politicians must learn to initiate projects with the nation at heart, not for popularity or to deceive citizens,” he warned.

Touching on the conduct of some healthcare workers, Mahama acknowledged that Ghana boasts of having some of the best health professionals in the world. However, he emphasized that the current challenge lies in work attitude and professionalism.

“The core mandate of healthcare givers is to save lives. Though there are many decent and dedicated professionals, it is unfortunate that some nurses attend to patients while operating their phones,” he lamented.

Nonetheless, he welcomed government’s decision to sanction a full-scale investigation into the incident, expressing hope that the outcome would bring accountability and prevent future occurrences.

The tragic episode has reignited public debate over Ghana’s healthcare system, infrastructure gaps, and the urgent need for reforms to end the long-standing “no bed syndrome.”