KATH CEO Suspended Over Announcement On Emergency Admissions

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has instructed the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Board to immediately suspend the hospital's CEO for two weeks.

The CEO's announcement that admissions of emergency cases at the facility will be suspended is cited in the instruction, which is contained in a letter dated June 5, 2026, as the basis for the disciplinary action.

The Minister claims that the CEO disregarded President John Mahama's orders when he declared on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, that the hospital would no longer accept emergency admissions.

“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 (2) weeks with immediate effect, for causing to be announced the suspension of admissions of emergency cases to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on Wednesday, June 3, 2026,” the letter stated.

The Health Minister further said that the CEO's activities were found to be at odds with the President's orders during a meeting that was attended by the Ministry's Chief Director, Technical Advisor, and Legal Advisor.

Along with the suspension, Mr. Akandoh has directed the Board to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the announcement and a media interview that Channel One News was given by KATH's Head of Public Affairs Unit.

The Minister claims that by publicly discussing the suspension of admissions, the Public Affairs Unit likewise disregarded presidential orders.

“I am also respectfully requesting you to undertake a thorough investigation to establish on what authority he made those comments on Channel One Newsroom. Further whether it was a management decision for him to grant the said interview. Where necessary the appropriate sanctions should be applied,” the Minister directed.

The Board has been given two weeks to provide a report on its findings.

The development comes after the public expressed worry over the referral hospital in Kumasi temporarily suspending emergency admissions due to issues compromising the facility's ability to provide treatment.