GMA demands immediate reinstatement of suspended KATH CEO – Threatens remedial action

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for the immediate withdrawal of the Health Minister's directive to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, describing the action as without basis and urging his reinstatement within three working days.

In a statement issued on Saturday, June 6, 2026, following an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council, the Association expressed displeasure at the actions of the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, which it said had directly or indirectly sought to incite the public against health workers.

The Minister, in a letter dated June 5, 2026, directed the Board of KATH to suspend the CEO, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, for two weeks. The directive followed the CEO's decision to temporarily suspend the admission of emergency cases at the hospital on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, due to severe congestion at the Accident and Emergency Centre.

GMA: Management's action was right and proper

The Association stated that the actions taken by the management of KATH were the right and proper professional and administrative decision in line with best practice in patient safety and responsible healthcare leadership across the world.

The Council further noted that the actions taken did not turn away patients to their fate or flout the President's directive but rather redirected patients and ensured they received safe and timely care at nearby hospitals with support from specialists from KATH.

"The decision with the coordinated efforts of the Regional Health Directorate, Regional Coordinating Council, health facilities and hard-working health workers in the region led to a significant decongestion of the Accident & Emergency Centre and a resumption of new admissions to the KATH Emergency within 24 hours," the statement read.

The GMA is of view that the initial query issued and subsequent directive for suspension were without basis and ought not to have been occasioned.

Call for immediate reinstatement

The Association called for an immediate withdrawal of the directive to the Board of KATH to suspend the Chief Executive Officer and for his immediate reinstatement within the next three working days.

It said the National Executive Council fully supports and stands by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association decision to stand down services until the suspension is withdrawn and necessary measures are put in place to improve emergency capacity in the Kumasi enclave.

The GMA also took notice of ongoing engagements by the KATH Board with the leadership of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association towards resolving the impasse.

Minister's actions condemned

The Ghana Medical Association expressed displeasure at the actions of the Minister of Health that it said have directly or indirectly sought to incite the public against health workers, with its associated increasing general demotivation of health professionals and incidents of violence against health workers.

Council called on the Minister to cease these hostile and confrontational actions and engage constructively to ensure improved morale and the continued support of health workers towards achieving objectives of the sector.

"If such acts continue, the Association and its members will have no choice but to take remedial actions to ensure the sector does not degenerate into chaos," the statement warned.

The Association urged all members to remain calm as the Council explores effective ways of achieving resolution of the issues. The statement said the Council will be monitoring and will reconvene to decide on next actions and communicate accordingly.

Background to the dispute

The KATH management's decision to temporarily suspend admission of new emergency cases came in the wake of an overcrowded Accident and Emergency Centre, which has been struggling with severe congestion due to increasing referrals. KATH serves as the principal tertiary referral centre for the middle and northern sectors of Ghana, receiving patients from more than eight regions, while continuing to operate under significant infrastructural limitations.

The doctors argued that the crisis at the hospital reflects longstanding systemic challenges within the health sector and should be addressed through policy and infrastructure interventions rather than punitive measures against healthcare leaders attempting to manage the situation.

"The current situation reflects longstanding systemic challenges that require urgent policy and infrastructure solutions rather than punitive action against healthcare leaders attempting to manage their consequences," the Komfo Anokye branch of the GMA had earlier stated.

The doctors announced a total withdrawal of services by medical doctors at KATH effective 6:00am on Saturday, June 6, 2026, which will continue until the suspension of the CEO is reviewed and reversed, and until the hospital's Board issues clear policies governing the management of situations where emergency capacity is exceeded.

They are also calling on the Ministry of Health to provide clear timelines for the operationalisation of the Sewua Hospital and the Afari Military Hospital, as well as the retooling of KATH and other health facilities within the Ashanti Region to ease pressure on the teaching hospital.

The statement was signed by Prof. Dr (Med.) Ernest Yorke, President of the Ghana Medical Association. The Association urged all members to remain calm as Council explores effective ways of achieving resolution of the issues.