The American Embassy has declined to take responsibility for a retired U S Army officer currently receiving treatment at Bloom Medical Centre in Accra.
The officer, Amboree Harold Eugene, was first admitted to Narh Bita Hospital in Tema before being transferred to Bloom Medical Centre.
According to hospital officials, his landlord brought him to the initial facility in critical condition but has since refused to assume any financial responsibility.
Management at Bloom Medical Centre reports that it has spent over $100,000 on Eugene’s treatment, excluding the cost of meals and other expenses.
The patient reportedly has a strong preference for fast food, choosing meals from KFC and hamburgers over locally prepared Ghanaian dishes.
The hospital spends about GHS 500 daily on his meals.
When denied his preferred food, Eugene allegedly defecates on himself and roams the wards, making noise and disregarding hospital protocols.
Dr Laurentiu Eugen Ilie, Country Director for Bloom Medical Centre, stated that the hospital promptly informed the American Embassy about the veteran’s condition.
Embassy representatives visited the facility, gathered information, and had management sign certain documents.
However, the embassy later declined to cover Eugene’s medical expenses or assume financial responsibility, explaining that they could not do so because his stay in Ghana was not officially sanctioned by the U.S. government.
Dr Ilie stressed that discharging Eugene would be tantamount to a death sentence—an action the facility is unwilling to take.
“If we discharge him, he will die. What I want is for someone from his family to take responsibility, care for him, and settle the bill. We have two components, life support and, secondly, the bill,” he said.
The hospital has spent a considerable amount of money attempting to contact U S-based associations for retired army officers, but all efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
When asked if the hospital would continue treatment, Dr Ilie responded:
“What else can we do? Leave him to die? We don’t know how long we can keep him. We also have another issue: he wants expensive food and refuses local meals. When you don’t give him what he wants, he shouts, makes noise, and soils himself.”
Dr Ilie confirmed that Eugene was brought to the hospital on life support on July 18, 2025, and has remained there since.
In an exclusive interview, Eugene said he arrived in Ghana about five years ago after retiring honorably from the U S Army.
He claims he had been living on social security benefits, but these have since stopped. He also disclosed that he has only a few months left on his rent.
When questioned about his family, Eugene was evasive, claiming he has no one he considers family.
