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Health Ministry Clarifies Minister’s Handshake With Ridge Hospital Assault Suspect
The Head of Communications at the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman, has dismissed suggestions that Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh knowingly shook hands with Ralph St. Williams, the social media activist accused of assaulting a nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
The clarification follows a viral video that captured the minister exchanging pleasantries with the suspect shortly after meeting hospital authorities over the alleged assault, which stemmed from a violent altercation between relatives of a patient and medical staff at Ridge Hospital’s emergency department.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, August 23, Mr. Goodman explained that the minister only recognized the activist after the handshake.
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“After the handshake, I told the minister that this is the Ralph guy, and he asked me if I was sure. I confirmed, and he then questioned him on why he did that. Ralph responded that he would come to the office to explain. So, for anybody to think that the handshake came after the action, it is wrong. He didn’t know the guy until I prompted him,” Mr. Goodman clarified.
He stressed that the handshake was simply an act of courtesy expected of a public official, not an endorsement of the alleged assault. Mr. Goodman also described Ralph’s demeanor as unsettling, noting that he was “laughing and shaking hands with everybody,” which prompted him to step aside.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh had earlier defended his actions at a press briefing on Thursday, August 21, insisting that the handshake should not be misinterpreted.
Meanwhile, Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, the nurse who was assaulted during the August 17 incident, has filed a GHS 7 million civil lawsuit against Ralph St. Williams for alleged physical assault and defamation.
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