Inspector General of Police (IGP) COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno has provided a detailed account of the circumstances involving a young Police Intelligence Department (PID) officer stationed at Ashanti Mampong who sustained a severe foot injury in an accident, dispelling allegations that the Ghana Police Service failed to provide him with medical care.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, the IGP described the officer’s condition as “very serious,” noting that he was first taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and later transferred to the Police Hospital in Accra under a certificate of urgency.
He said he personally issued directives for the officer to receive immediate and comprehensive medical attention.
Medical officers at the Police Hospital, after extensive examination and attempts to salvage the damaged limb, recommended a below-the-knee amputation.
According to the IGP, the tissues in the officer’s foot had deteriorated to the point where amputation was the safest option to prevent life-threatening complications.
“The medical team explored every possible avenue, but the tissues were extremely compromised. Their professional judgment was that a below-the-knee amputation would preserve what was left of the leg rather than risk losing the knee entirely,” COP Yohuno explained.
Hospital chaplains also provided psychological support to the injured officer, who was counselled along with his family. However, despite the medical team’s recommendation, the officer and his mother declined the amputation and decided to seek alternative treatment outside the hospital system.
The IGP emphasized that the officer was fully within his rights to reject the procedure.
“No officer was denied treatment or pressured into any decision. He was receiving care, and the doctors communicated their professional position. When he and his family disagreed and chose to try other forms of treatment, the medical team respected their choice,” he said.
COP Yohuno noted that the officer subsequently left the hospital without informing the police administration.
He added that efforts are currently underway to trace the officer’s whereabouts so the Service can monitor his condition and support the family’s decision-making regarding further treatment.
According to the IGP, the officer’s leg has since deteriorated further, making the need for proper medical attention more urgent.
He stressed that while families may seek spiritual or alternative healing methods, these should not replace lifesaving medical interventions, especially in cases of severe trauma.
“We are still trying to reach him. If the family agrees to return to the hospital, we will ensure he receives the treatment needed. Our focus has always been his wellbeing,” he stated.
The IGP dismissed claims circulating on social media that the Service had abandoned the officer, insisting that such reports were inaccurate and misleading.
He reiterated that the Ghana Police Service has never denied any officer access to healthcare, adding that the case only came to his attention after the officer publicly shared his condition online.
