The Ministry of Health has described the ongoing strike action by doctors and nurses at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) as unfortunate, insisting that the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, was necessary to uphold accountability and administrative discipline within Ghana’s health sector.
In a press statement issued on Sunday June 7, 2026, the Ministry said the decision to suspend Dr. Baidoo followed what it described as his failure to comply with established administrative procedures regarding the closure of a public health facility.
According to the Ministry, the suspension was prompted by the public announcement of a cessation of admissions at KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre, a move it said contradicted a directive by President John Dramani Mahama that all public health facilities must continue to provide emergency healthcare services and not turn patients away under any circumstances.
The Ministry stressed that the action taken against Dr. Baidoo was unrelated to any internal arrangements between KATH and the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate. It further clarified that he had only been suspended from his role as Chief Executive Officer and not from his position as a medical officer at the hospital.
“The suspension arose from the public announcement of cessation of admission into the Accident and Emergency unit,” the statement noted, adding that the decision was carefully considered in the interest of patient safety, institutional accountability and adherence to established procedures.
The Ministry maintained that major decisions affecting emergency healthcare delivery, especially at a leading tertiary referral facility such as KATH, must be coordinated with the hospital’s board, the Ministry and other relevant authorities before implementation.
Officials also emphasized that the suspension should not be interpreted as a punishment for efforts to protect patients. Rather, they said, it is an administrative measure aimed at facilitating an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the emergency unit and determining appropriate remedial actions.
The statement acknowledged longstanding operational challenges facing the Accident and Emergency Centre at KATH and recognized management’s responsibility to ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare workers.
Addressing concerns raised by the striking doctors and nurses, the Ministry urged stakeholders to pursue dialogue and established dispute-resolution mechanisms instead of industrial action.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns of staff and emphasizes that dialogue and established dispute resolution channels remain the best path to addressing grievances,” it said.
The Ministry also highlighted several interventions being undertaken to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide. These include the retooling of major hospitals, the introduction of a National Bed Management System, efforts to operationalize the National Emergency Centre at Burma Camp, completion of selected Agenda 111 hospital projects, and the establishment of cardiac catheterization laboratories at KATH, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Plans are also said to be far advanced for the establishment of a National Accident and Emergency Centre in Accra.
On the Sewua Hospital project, the Ministry indicated that work is progressing steadily and that the facility is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has been directed to implement immediate measures to ensure continued access to emergency healthcare services while engagements with the striking doctors and nurses continue.
The Ministry reiterated that Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has not adopted an adversarial stance towards health professionals and remains committed to working with all stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery.
It ultimately appealed to the striking staff to reconsider their decision and return to work in the interest of patients and the wider public.
Source: Mavis Fantevi
