KATH Doctors Declare Strike Over CEO Suspension
Medical doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have announced an indefinite withdrawal of services in protest against the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer by the Minister for Health.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) held on June 5, 2026, following what members described as recent developments surrounding the management of the hospital’s overcrowded Emergency Department.
In a notice of industrial action addressed to the Chairman of the KATH Board, the doctors expressed concern that measures introduced by hospital management to address severe congestion and ensure patient safety had instead resulted in disciplinary action against the CEO.
According to KADA, members unanimously agreed that management’s decision to temporarily halt new emergency admissions and coordinate with nearby health facilities was a necessary clinical and administrative intervention aimed at preventing avoidable deaths and safeguarding both patients and healthcare workers amid severe capacity constraints.
The association noted that KATH, which serves as a major referral centre for the middle and northern sectors of Ghana, continues to face significant infrastructural limitations despite a growing patient load.
KADA argued that the current challenges are the result of longstanding systemic issues that require urgent policy and infrastructure interventions rather than punitive measures against hospital leaders.
The doctors further condemned the Health Minister’s decision to suspend the CEO, describing the action as unjustified and counterproductive to efforts aimed at addressing the underlying challenges confronting the hospital.
As part of resolutions adopted at the meeting, KADA announced a total withdrawal of services by medical doctors at KATH effective 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The association stated that the industrial action will continue until three key demands are met: the review and reversal of the CEO’s suspension; the issuance of clear policies by the hospital’s Board on managing situations where emergency capacity is exceeded; and the provision by the Ministry of Health of clear timelines for the operationalisation of Sewua Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, as well as the retooling of KATH and other hospitals within the Ashanti Region.
KADA also pledged to engage the public and relevant stakeholders through the media to highlight what it described as a chronic mismatch between patient demand and available healthcare infrastructure and resources.
The association stressed that the strike is not intended to undermine healthcare delivery but rather to draw national attention to issues relating to patient and caregiver safety, clinical governance, professional accountability and the long-term sustainability of healthcare services.
The doctors called on the KATH Board to urgently engage the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to secure an amicable resolution and avert further disruption to healthcare services.
The notice was signed by Dr. Michael Leat, Chairman of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association.
