The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has responded to criticism over a viral video that captured him shaking hands with Ralph Saint Williams, the social media activist, accused of assaulting a nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital popularly known as Ridge Hospital.

The footage, which circulated shortly after the minister’s engagement with hospital authorities, sparked debate on multiple platforms; with some commentators suggesting that the gesture by Akandoh purportedly endorsed the suspect’s (Ralph Williams) assault on the nurse.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Mintah Akandoh, clarified that his handshake was not an endorsement of the alleged attack but rather a show of courtesy expected of someone in public office.

“After we finished the meeting with the hospital management, I put together a committee to investigate the matter in question. So, after that meeting, we came outside, and my attention was drawn to a gentleman, who, I was told was at the centre of the controversy.

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“So, on approaching me, I asked, ‘Why did you do what you did?’ When I asked, the gentleman stretched his hand, and extended a handshake to me, and attempted to whisper something into my ear. At this point, should I push him away, snub him, or shout at him? Even if that guy has been prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment, if he stretches his hand to shake me, as a minister and as a public officer, I have a duty to greet him back,” he explained.

The minister emphasised that his actions had no bearing on the government’s stance on the incident.

“The fact that I shook hands with him does not mean I should stop any measures the Ministry or the government will take to unravel the situation,” he stressed.

A committee has been established to probe the alleged assault and Mintah Akadoh assured that necessary steps will follow once the report is ready.

Meanwhile, one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, while another is on the run.

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Watch the video below

Mintah Akandoh explains why he shook Ralph's hand at Ridge Hospital



MRA/VPO

Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWeb’s upcoming documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below: