Midwife Assault at Tema Polyclinic Sparks Calls for Protection

A suspect is due in court after the alleged assault of a midwife at Tema Community 22 Polyclinic, prompting renewed calls from healthcare professional bodies for stronger protection of nurses, midwives and other frontline health workers across Ghana.

ACCRA, Ghana — A suspect is due to appear in court on 8 June after the alleged assault of a midwife at Tema Community 22 Polyclinic, an incident that has sparked national calls for stronger protections for healthcare workers across Ghana.

The incident, which occurred on 2 June, allegedly involved a relative of a patient confronting and physically assaulting a senior staff midwife while she was enforcing the facility’s visiting-hours policy, according to statements issued by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG).

Videos circulating on social media have intensified public concern about the safety of healthcare workers, many of whom operate in demanding conditions while delivering essential services to patients. The Ghana Health Service described the incident as an unacceptable attack on a healthcare professional performing her lawful duties and confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and was expected to be arraigned before court on 8 June.

The incident has renewed concerns among health sector stakeholders about rising reports of verbal abuse, intimidation and physical attacks against frontline medical personnel in Ghana.

Healthcare Bodies Condemn Incident

The Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate expressed solidarity with the affected midwife and stressed that healthcare professionals should be able to carry out their duties free from intimidation, abuse or violence. It also urged members of the public to use established complaint-resolution mechanisms rather than confrontational behaviour when disputes arise in healthcare facilities. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association described the incident as a disturbing example of the growing threats faced by healthcare workers and called for immediate measures to improve safety across hospitals, clinics and polyclinics nationwide.

The association proposed enhanced security presence at critical service points, stricter visitor management systems, improved surveillance infrastructure, rapid-response protocols for violent incidents and regular security risk assessments. The Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana, also condemned the alleged assault and warned that attacks on healthcare personnel undermine staff welfare, public confidence and the quality of healthcare delivery. The union called for a full investigation and appropriate legal action where warranted.

Ministry of Health Backs Affected Midwife

The Ministry of Health has also expressed concern over the incident. According to the Ghana Health Service, a delegation acting on the instructions of Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh visited the affected midwife to convey government support and reassure her that investigations would be allowed to proceed without interference. The ministry reiterated its commitment to protecting healthcare workers and stated that violence against medical personnel would not be tolerated.

Calls for National Workplace Violence Policy

The GRNMA used the incident to renew calls for a comprehensive national policy to address violence against healthcare workers.

The association urged the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, teaching hospitals and other healthcare institutions to strengthen workplace protections and enforce measures designed to prevent similar incidents. It also called on Ghana to ratify and implement the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190, an international treaty aimed at preventing violence and harassment in workplaces, including healthcare settings.

According to the association, adopting the convention would strengthen legal protections for healthcare workers and provide a clearer framework for responding to workplace violence.

Wider Concerns for the Health Sector

Professional bodies say violence against healthcare workers remains an underreported challenge in many health facilities and can contribute to reduced morale, staff shortages and disruptions to patient care. Nurses’ and midwives’ groups warned that fear of violence can affect staff retention and workplace wellbeing, particularly in already stretched public health facilities.

Healthcare worker safety has become an increasingly prominent issue in Ghana, with professional associations repeatedly raising concerns about verbal abuse, threats and physical attacks directed at frontline staff. While investigations into the Tema incident continue, healthcare organisations argue that the case highlights the need for stronger institutional safeguards to ensure medical professionals can perform their duties safely and effectively. For Ghana’s nurses and midwives, the case has become about more than a single incident. Professional bodies say the response by authorities could set an important precedent for how violence against healthcare workers is prevented, investigated and punished in the future.

Reporting by Edem Hodasi, with additional verification and editorial analysis by Nukunya News Desk using statements from the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana, and official health sector communications.