The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has summoned the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, following the hospital’s decision to suspend the admission of new cases at its emergency centre due to congestion.
A query letter signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Desmond Boateng, indicated that the Ministry had taken note of a statement circulating on social media regarding the situation at the facility.
It further noted that the Head of the hospital’s Public Affairs Unit had, in a media interview, confirmed management’s decision that the emergency centre could not admit new cases at the time.
According to the letter, the action was contrary to a clear directive from President John Dramani Mahama instructing hospitals not to turn away emergency cases.
“You are by this letter requested to appear before the Minister before 12pm on Thursday, June 4, 2026, to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against you for contradicting a clear directive of the President,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has since resumed operations at its accident and emergency centre, now admitting only critical emergency cases, less than 24 hours after announcing a temporary suspension of new admissions.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, management had informed the public that the A and E Centre was overstretched and unable to receive additional emergency cases for about 24 hours, urging the public to seek care at nearby health facilities.
In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Kwame Frimpong, the hospital explained that the centre, originally designed as a 37-bed facility, was then managing 61 patients across its red, yellow and orange zones, with 34 more patients waiting to be attended to.
Management said the temporary restriction was necessary to prevent further risk to critically ill patients and allow staff to clear the backlog before resuming normal admissions.
The hospital also engaged the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate to coordinate support from other facilities in the region, while assuring that neonatal, paediatric and obstetric emergency services were not affected.
The statement added that the situation was under continuous review and that full admissions would resume once pressure at the centre eased.
However, by Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the facility had resumed admissions following decongestion measures, including the diversion of less critical cases to peripheral hospitals and the discharge of some patients.
Public Affairs Head Kwame Frimpong explained that a meeting involving hospital management, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate and medical superintendents had agreed on steps to ease pressure on the centre.
He noted that one key measure was to retain non-critical cases at district and peripheral hospitals, where they would be managed with support from KATH specialists and consultants, allowing the A and E Centre to focus on the most urgent emergencies.
Modernghana.com
