On Wednesday, June 3, the Health Ministry summoned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, over a notice of congestion at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre, which has led to a growing number of referrals from other medical facilities.

However, following widespread reports of the situation, the Health Ministry issued a query to the CEO of the Kumasi-based health facility to explain what it described as an attempt to disregard the President’s directive to hospitals not to turn away emergency cases.

In response to the Health Ministry’s query to the KATH CEO, the Komfo Anokye Doctors’ Association (KADA), in a rejoinder dated June 4, defended the CEO, describing the move as knee-jerk.

The Association urged authorities to focus on addressing the systemic challenges confronting the hospital rather than assigning blame.

“We are therefore concerned that the issuance of a query to the Chief Executive Officer appears to be a knee-jerk response to a crisis rather than addressing the underlying systemic challenges that precipitated the situation,” parts of the statement read.

The Association dismissed claims that patients were denied treatment, stating that management's decision to redirect some cases through other health facilities was necessary to prevent overcrowding and avoid risking patients' lives.

“Allowing more patients into an already overstretched emergency facility would have compromised quality care and endangered lives.

“Management’s decision to liaise with nearby hospitals and temporarily redirect patients was a responsible measure aimed at ensuring patient safety and continuity of care, rather than a refusal to provide healthcare services,” the statement added.

Consequently, KADA urged that efforts to protect patient safety deserve recognition and called on authorities to avoid making premature judgments without a proper review of available reports.

“The healthcare professionals of KATH believe that leaders who take difficult but necessary decisions in the interest of patient safety should be supported and engaged constructively rather than publicly subjected to disciplinary processes without a comprehensive review of the prevailing circumstances,” the statement continued.

The Association also highlighted what it described as a gap in healthcare infrastructure development between the Ashanti Region and Greater Accra, noting that inadequate investment in health facilities within the region has contributed to mounting pressure on KATH.

To address the challenge, KADA called on the Ministry of Health to fast-track the operationalisation of the Afari Military Hospital, the Sewua Hospital, and other strategically located facilities to ease the burden on KATH and improve healthcare delivery across the region.

“We are deeply concerned about the widening gap in healthcare infrastructure development between the Ashanti Region and Greater Accra. Inadequate investment in health facilities within our region has contributed to mounting pressure on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

“We call on the Ministry of Health to fast-track the operationalisation of the Afari Military Hospital, the Sewua Hospital, and other strategically located facilities to ease the burden on KATH and improve healthcare delivery across the region,” KADA expressed its concerns.

The Association reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and patient safety and pledged to work with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the hospital’s capacity challenges.

GMA on the KATH CEO case

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have added their voice to the KATH CEO’s query issued by the Health Ministry.

According to the Association, it has engaged some staff from the A7E and can confirm that the widely reported narrative of the hospital turning patients away due to congestion. In a statement issued on June 4,

“Following engagements with the management of KATH, discussions with some staff of the Accident and Emergency Centre, and a review of the explanations provided by the Medical Director of the Hospital in media interviews, it does not appear that the Hospital turned away emergency patients.

Rather, the temporary measures announced by Management were intended to support the appropriate redistribution of patients to peripheral health facilities within the region while the Hospital addressed significant congestion and capacity constraints at its Accident and Emergency Centre. A review of the minutes of the meeting held on June 2, 2026, by the Regional Health Directorate, suggests that there were deliberate and agreed actions outlined to mitigate the congestion situation at KΑΤΗ,” the Association stated.