The Ministry of Health has justified its decision to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, describing the ongoing developments at the facility, including strike action by doctors and nurses, as unfortunate.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry said the suspension was a carefully considered administrative decision aimed at ensuring accountability, patient safety and adherence to established procedures within the health sector.
According to the Ministry, the suspension followed Dr. Baidoo’s public announcement of the cessation of admissions at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre, a move it said was inconsistent with directives issued by President John Dramani Mahama regarding access to emergency healthcare services.
“The decision to suspend the CEO of KATH was carefully considered and taken in the interest of institutional accountability, patient safety, and the need to uphold administrative discipline within the health sector,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that the action was unrelated to internal arrangements between KATH and the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate. It further clarified that Dr. Baidoo was suspended in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer and not as a medical practitioner.
The statement recalled that during the State of the Nation Address, President Mahama directed all public health facilities to ensure that patients seeking emergency care receive the necessary attention and are not turned away under any circumstances.
According to the Ministry, the closure announcement was made without prior authorization from the KATH Board and the Ministry of Health, prompting concerns over compliance with established procedures.
Officials explained that the suspension is intended to facilitate an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Accident and Emergency Centre and to identify appropriate remedies going forward.
While acknowledging the concerns raised by doctors and nurses at the hospital, the Ministry urged staff to use established dialogue and dispute resolution mechanisms rather than industrial action.
“Stakeholders must work together to ensure that grievances are addressed promptly and fairly, while safeguarding the continuous delivery of healthcare services to the public,” the statement noted.
The Ministry also rejected suggestions that the suspension was intended to punish efforts aimed at protecting patients, insisting that the decision seeks to promote accountability, proper communication and adherence to national health policies.
Recognising the longstanding operational challenges facing KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre, the Ministry said management decisions with significant implications for healthcare delivery at a major referral hospital must be coordinated with relevant authorities and follow established protocols.
The statement highlighted several interventions being undertaken by the government to improve healthcare delivery, including the retooling of major hospitals, the introduction of a National Bed Management System, efforts to operationalise the National Emergency Centre at Burma Camp, the completion of selected Agenda 111 projects, and the establishment of catheterisation laboratories at KATH, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.
The Ministry further assured the public that concerns raised by KATH staff are receiving urgent attention and disclosed that work on the Sewua Hospital Project is progressing steadily, with completion expected before the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has been directed to implement immediate measures to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency healthcare services while engagements continue with doctors and nurses to persuade them to call off the strike and resume work.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting patient welfare while ensuring a safe and conducive working environment for health professionals, and appealed to all affected staff to return to work in the interest of the public.
