Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and other medical workers will today lay down their tools to search for new accommodation following the alleged takeover of their current residences by private developers.

The decision was made public in a statement following an emergency meeting on Tuesday, where the doctors unanimously agreed to strike in support of 20 of their colleagues who have received eviction notice.

The Ghana Medical Association has endorsed the strike, which will only impact new admissions, as all doctors have agreed to comply with the Association’s directive.

This means that patients who would have been admitted for treatment or care at KATH may need to seek medical attention elsewhere or face delays in receiving care.

The medical workers, particularly those affiliated with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, claim they have been given a week's ultimatum by the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to vacate their existing residences. They allege that their bungalows have been sold to private developers.

Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, expressed dismay at the sudden displacement of hospital staff from their homes, highlighting the agreement made with Manhyia Palace for new accommodations before the handover of the land.

However, this agreement, he said, has allegedly been disregarded.

“You will notice that a lot of our staff live 15 to 20 minutes away from the hospital and all of a sudden, people will come and ask you to move from your place because it has been sold to them and we took that issue up and we met with Manhyia on it and it was agreed that a new place be prepared to move us there before you can take possession of the land, they have disregarded that with impunity and so we are meeting this morning.

“We will all leave the hospital to go and look for accommodation because we don’t have a place to sleep.”