Health Minister urges GHS to show leniency toward queried nurse

The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has appealed to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to show compassion in its disciplinary proceedings against Ms. Bernice Aboagye, the staff nurse who was recently queried for using offensive language against him in a viral video.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Health, Hon. Akandoh commended the GHS for swiftly upholding professional ethics and enforcing its Code of Conduct, but urged the Service to “temper justice with mercy” in addressing the incident.

The Minister acknowledged that while public criticism of leaders is a normal part of democracy, it must be conducted with respect.

“We welcome divergent opinions and constructive feedback, as they are vital to fostering openness and tolerance in governance,” the statement read.

However, he cautioned health workers to channel their frustrations appropriately, noting that abusive or disrespectful speech tarnishes the image of the profession and hampers progress in the health sector.

Hon. Akandoh also reaffirmed that peaceful protests remain a protected constitutional right, but emphasized that indiscipline and verbal abuse have no place in such demonstrations.

The statement concluded by urging all health professionals to maintain professionalism and restraint in their public commentary and social media engagements, stressing that decorum remains a cornerstone of public service.