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 that temporarily halted admissions of new emergency cases at the facility.
The suspension follows widespread public concern after KATH announced on June 3, 2026 that its Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre had reached full capacity and would no longer admit new emergency cases. The announcement triggered national debate about the state of emergency healthcare delivery at one of Ghana’s largest referral hospitals and prompted intervention from both the Ministry of Health and the Presidency.
In a letter addressed to the hospital’s Board, the Minister stated that the suspension was being carried out pursuant to Section 36(1) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 526).
According to Mr. Akandoh, the Chief Executive Officer admitted during a meeting with him on June 4, 2026 that the decision to announce the suspension of emergency admissions was contrary to directives issued by President John Dramani Mahama.
“The Chief Executive admitted before me on Wednesday June 4, 2026 that he acted contrary to the clear directives of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana by that said announcement,” the Minister stated in the letter.
The Health Minister further directed that the CEO remain on suspension for two weeks and report directly to him upon the expiration of the period.
The meeting at which the CEO made the admission was attended by the Chief Director, Technical Advisor and Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Health.
Beyond the suspension of the CEO, the Minister has ordered a thorough investigation into comments made by the Head of Public Affairs Unit of KATH during an interview with Channel One Newsroom regarding the suspension of emergency admissions.
Mr. Akandoh indicated that the spokesperson’s comments were also contrary to directives issued by the President and has therefore requested the Board to determine the circumstances under which the interview was granted.
The Board has specifically been tasked to establish whether the Public Affairs Officer acted on his own authority or with the approval of hospital management.
“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 Minister has given the Board two weeks to complete its investigations and submit a report on its findings.
The development marks the latest twist in the controversy surrounding the temporary closure of KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre to new admissions, a decision that generated public concern due to the hospital’s critical role as a major referral centre serving the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North and parts of the Northern regions.
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