Rejoice Tsortso Bortei, a Staff Nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), has filed a GH¢7 million lawsuit against social media activist Ralph Saint Williams for reportedly assaulting her in a violent incident at the facility that occurred on August 17.
The lawsuit, filed at the High Court in Accra, includes a claim of defamation, as the nurse insists the activist worsened her ordeal through damaging public commentary after the attack.
According to the writ of summons signed by Ag. Chief Justice P. Baffoe-Bonnie, Ralph Saint Williams, popularly known as Ralph De Fellow Ghanaian, is commanded to enter an appearance within eight days of being served.
“You are hereby commanded that within eight days after service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you, Ralph Saint Williams a.k.a. Ralph De Fellow Ghanaian,” the court document reads. The summons cautions that failure to respond could result in judgment being entered against him in his absence.
The lawsuit stems from a confrontation at Ridge Hospital, where chaos reportedly broke out after relatives of a patient allegedly assaulted medical staff. Rejoice Bortei claims Ralph Saint Williams personally attacked her during the incident, compounding the trauma faced by healthcare professionals at the hospital.
The case has since reignited public concern over the safety of frontline health workers, following a viral video of the assault that sparked nationwide condemnation.Rejoice is now seeking GH¢7 million in damages as compensation for the alleged assault and defamation.
The High Court’s handling of this case is expected to set a precedent for the protection of health workers who face violence in the line of duty.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has thrown its weight behind the legal action, stressing that justice must be served to deter future attacks on health professionals.
