MP claims ex-decentralisation chief questioned as Health Ministry denies ‘bed shortage’ crisis

A Ghanaian MP has alleged that a former senior government official was questioned by authorities over undisclosed allegations, as the Ministry of Health simultaneously moved to reject reports of a nationwide shortage of hospital beds.

Sammi Awuku, the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, says Dennis Miracles Aboagye – the former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD) – was interrogated in connection with alleged wrongdoing.

Details of the purported questioning, including which agency conducted it, the nature of the allegations and when it occurred, have not been publicly disclosed. Mr Awuku’s claim has nonetheless fuelled fresh scrutiny of governance and accountability within state institutions.

There has been no immediate public response from Mr Aboagye or from the IMCCoD to the allegation.

Former IMCCoD official at centre of interrogation claim

Mr Awuku, who represents the Akuapem North constituency in Parliament, said the interrogation of Mr Aboagye related to alleged misconduct, though he did not provide specific evidence or documentation to support the claim.

The IMCCoD is a key coordinating body tasked with overseeing and harmonising Ghana’s decentralisation reforms across ministries and agencies. As Executive Secretary, Mr Aboagye would have held a central administrative and advisory role within that structure.

The allegation of questioning comes at a time when public debate over transparency, anti-corruption efforts and political accountability remains intense in Ghana. Without an official statement from investigative bodies or the individual concerned, the circumstances around the reported interrogation remain unclear.

Health Ministry rejects ‘widespread’ bed shortage narrative

In a separate development, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has dismissed suggestions that Ghana is facing a pervasive shortage of hospital beds.

The MoH has “rejected claims of a widespread shortage of hospital beds across the country”, insisting that the situation is not as dire as portrayed in some reports and commentary.

Officials argue that while there are capacity constraints in certain facilities – particularly in large urban centres – they do not amount to a systemic, nationwide collapse of inpatient capacity. The Ministry maintains that measures are being taken to address localised bottlenecks, including redistributing patients, expanding facilities where possible and improving referral systems.

The statement comes against the backdrop of recurring public concern over patients being treated on chairs, in corridors or under temporary shelters in some hospitals, particularly during peak periods of demand. Health advocates have for years called for sustained capital investment in infrastructure, staff and equipment to keep pace with Ghana’s growing and urbanising population.

Children’s safety on TikTok under fresh scrutiny

Separately, an investigation has been opened into whether social media platform TikTok is doing enough to keep children off its service.

Regulators are examining the company’s age-verification systems and its broader approach to enforcing minimum age rules. The probe is expected to look at how effectively TikTok identifies underage users, what tools it uses to remove them, and whether parental controls and safety features are sufficiently robust.

TikTok, which has hundreds of millions of users worldwide, has long faced criticism from child-safety groups and policymakers who say younger children are still able to access the platform despite restrictions. The new investigation will seek to determine whether the company is complying with applicable child-protection and data-protection laws, and whether further regulatory action is required.

The outcome could have broader implications for how major social media platforms police age limits and protect minors online.

Media landscape

The reports originated from Citi Newsroom, a leading Ghanaian news platform that describes its mission as delivering “high quality innovative, alternative news that challenges the status quo.”

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