Rejoice Tsotso Bortei, a nurse at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, has filed a lawsuit against social media activist Ralph Saint Williams, popularly known as “Ralph De Fellow Ghanaian,” over allegations of assault and defamation. The lawsuit, filed at the High Court in Accra on August 20, 2025, seeks GH₵7 million in damages – GH₵5 million for battery and GH₵2 million for defamation.
Allegations Against Ralph Saint Williams
According to the statement of claim, the incident occurred on August 17, 2025, while Bortei was on duty at the Ridge Hospital emergency ward. Williams allegedly stormed the ward with a group of men, demanding immediate treatment for an injury to his fingers. When staff insisted, he follow hospital procedures, he became violent, hurling insults and filming staff and patients without consent. Bortei claims Williams struck her with a clenched fist and a metallic cellphone, causing injuries to her arm, shoulder, waist, and other parts of her body.
Defamatory Statements
Bortei also accuses Williams of publishing defamatory statements about her on social media, calling her a “liar” and accusing her of fabricating her injuries to “cover the nonsense going on at the hospital.” Her lawyers argue that these statements damaged her reputation, subjected her to public ridicule, and undermined her credibility as a nurse.
Reliefs Sought
Bortei is seeking several reliefs from the court, including:
– Public Apology: A public apology and retraction of the defamatory statements in the same medium and with equal prominence
– Injunction: A perpetual injunction preventing Williams from making further defamatory remarks
– Restraining Order: A 50-meter restraining order against Williams
– Legal Costs: Legal costs and any other reliefs deemed appropriate by the court
Next Steps
Williams has been ordered to enter an appearance within eight days of service or face a default judgment. Meanwhile, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has issued a one-week ultimatum to a newly formed committee investigating assaults on nurses and health professionals at Ridge Hospital.