Health Ministry defends KATH CEO suspension, urges striking doctors and nurses to resume work

The Ministry of Health has described the ongoing strike action by doctors and nurses at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) as unfortunate, insisting that the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, was necessary to uphold accountability and administrative discipline.

In a statement, the Ministry explained that Dr. Baidoo’s suspension was linked to the public announcement of the closure of the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre without prior authorization from the KATH Board and the Ministry of Health.

According to the Ministry, the decision was taken in line with President John Dramani Mahama’s directive that no patient seeking emergency healthcare should be turned away under any circumstances.

The Ministry clarified that the action was purely administrative and intended to facilitate an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the emergency unit. It further stressed that Dr. Baidoo was suspended in his capacity as CEO and not as a medical officer.

While acknowledging the operational challenges facing the Accident and Emergency Centre, the Ministry maintained that decisions with significant implications for healthcare delivery must follow established protocols and be properly coordinated with relevant authorities.

The Ministry also highlighted several ongoing interventions aimed at improving healthcare delivery nationwide, including the retooling of major hospitals, plans to operationalize the National Emergency Centre at Burma Camp, the completion of selected Agenda 111 projects, and the establishment of cardiac catheterization laboratories at KATH, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The statement assured the public that concerns raised by health workers at KATH are receiving urgent attention and disclosed that work on the Sewua Hospital Project is progressing steadily, with completion expected before the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has been directed to implement measures to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency healthcare services as engagements continue with the striking doctors and nurses.

The Ministry appealed to all affected staff to reconsider their decision and return to work in the interest of patients and the general public.