Health Minister Suspends KATH CEO
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed the Board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to suspend the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer for two weeks with immediate effect over the controversial announcement suspending emergency admissions at the facility.
In a letter dated June 5, 2026, the Minister said the CEO’s decision to announce the suspension of emergency admissions on June 3, 2026, was contrary to directives issued by John Dramani Mahama.
According to the Minister, a meeting involving the Chief Director, Technical Adviser and Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Health concluded that the CEO’s actions were inconsistent with the President’s directives.
“Pursuant to Section 36(1) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 526), I am respectfully directing the Board to suspend the Chief Executive Officer for a period of two weeks with immediate effect for causing the announcement of the suspension of admissions of emergency cases to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on Wednesday, June 3, 2026,” portions of the letter stated.
The Minister also directed the Board to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the announcement and a subsequent media interview granted by the Head of the hospital’s Public Affairs Unit to Channel One News.
Mr. Akandoh indicated that the comments made by the Public Affairs Officer were also contrary to presidential directives and should be thoroughly investigated.
He further tasked the Board to determine the authority under which the Public Affairs Officer granted the interview and whether it was sanctioned by management.
The Minister stressed that appropriate sanctions should be imposed where necessary.
The Board has been given two weeks to complete its investigations and submit a report to the Ministry.
The directive follows widespread public concern over KATH’s temporary suspension of emergency admissions amid challenges affecting healthcare delivery at the premier referral hospital in the Ashanti Region.
