Donkorkrom, Eastern Region — Tension is rising in the Kwawu Afram Plains North District as health workers at the Presbyterian Hospital in Donkorkrom have issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, threatening to withdraw their services if urgent steps are not taken to address a growing wave of deadly armed robberies in the area.
The alarming situation has pushed frontline medical staff to the brink. On Tuesday, dozens of visibly agitated nurses, doctors, and other hospital workers staged a protest through the streets of Donkorkrom, clad in red armbands—a traditional symbol of distress and resistance.
“We’re Under Siege” — Health Workers Sound the Alarm
Leading the protest, Dr. Isaac Boateng, Acting Medical Administrator at the facility, did not mince words. Recounting a recent armed robbery incident that traumatized his own family, he issued a direct warning:
“If nothing is done by Friday, I will stop work. The entire staff has given the government two weeks. We can’t die here in silence.”
Kwaku Fianko Gyan, General Manager of the Presbyterian Hospital, added that attacks on commuters and health personnel have become routine, especially on the Ekye Amanfrom–Donkorkrom road, a notorious hotspot for highway banditry.
“We are under siege. Armed robbery attacks occur nearly three times a week. Every journey to or from this hospital is a life-or-death risk. Government must act now,” he stressed.
Petition to Authorities: “Protect Us or We Leave”
The health workers submitted a strongly worded petition to key local authorities, including the District Police Commander, the District Chief Executive, local Members of Parliament, and traditional leaders, demanding:
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Immediate deployment of security personnel, including the Anti-Robbery Task Force.
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Installation of security checkpoints along the most dangerous road corridors.
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Provision of ambulance escorts for emergency referrals.
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A clear roadmap for sustainable security infrastructure in the area.
Community Outrage and Solidarity
The medical staff are not alone in their frustration. Residents of Kwawu Afram Plains, many of whom have also suffered violent attacks, are demanding the return of the Anti-Robbery Task Force that was previously stationed in the district but later withdrawn under unclear circumstances.
“We’ve been left vulnerable. Our health workers are saving lives, and now their own lives are at risk. We support them fully,” said a community spokesperson during the protest.
A Crisis in the Making
The ultimatum from the Donkorkrom health workers adds to a growing list of grievances in Ghana’s rural healthcare system, where insecurity, poor infrastructure, and limited logistical support are combining to push professionals away from high-need areas.
Healthcare analysts warn that a mass exodus of medical staff from Donkorkrom would spell disaster for the over 100,000 residents who rely on the Presbyterian Hospital as the primary health facility in the region.
Call to Action
The message from Donkorkrom is clear: protect the protectors or risk a collapse of critical healthcare services. With the clock ticking on the two-week ultimatum, all eyes are now on the Ministry of Interior, the Ghana Police Service, and the Ministry of Health to respond decisively before tragedy strikes again.
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