GMA Defends KATH Over A&E Congestion, Questions Query to CEO
Association says emergency patients were not turned away and urges focus on strengthening healthcare delivery rather than assigning blame
- GMA says KATH did not turn away emergency patients during the congestion crisis
- Temporary measures were introduced to manage overcrowding and protect critical care services
- The Association questioned the query issued to KATH’s CEO and called for system-wide healthcare improvements
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has defended the management of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), stating that the facility did not refuse emergency cases but adopted temporary measures to manage severe congestion caused by overwhelming patient numbers.
In a statement jointly signed by GMA President Prof. Dr. Ernest Yorke and General Secretary Dr. Richard Selormey, the Association said it had closely monitored public discussions on the issue and engaged hospital management and staff while reviewing explanations provided by KATH and relevant regional health authorities.
According to the GMA, the temporary arrangements were introduced to facilitate the redistribution of patients to other healthcare facilities within the Ashanti Region in order to reduce pressure on the hospital’s A&E Centre.
The Association noted that available information showed the facility was operating beyond its intended capacity, making it necessary to implement urgent measures to ensure critically ill patients already admitted continued to receive appropriate care.
The GMA further revealed that minutes from a Regional Health Directorate meeting held on June 2, 2026, outlined agreed interventions aimed at addressing the congestion challenge. It added that the situation at the A&E Centre has since improved significantly.
While welcoming the resolution of the immediate crisis, the Association said the incident exposes broader challenges within Ghana’s emergency healthcare system and called for increased investment in emergency medicine infrastructure, expansion of emergency care facilities, stronger referral networks, and improved support for regional and district hospitals.
“The GMA emphasizes that every Ghanaian, regardless of where they live, should have timely access to quality emergency medical care,” the statement said.
The Association also commended healthcare workers at KATH and across the Ashanti Region for managing the situation under difficult circumstances.
However, the GMA expressed concern over the tone of a query letter issued to the Chief Executive Officer of KATH, arguing that it appeared to suggest wrongdoing on the part of hospital management.
The Association expressed hope that ongoing discussions between the Health Minister and KATH leadership would produce constructive solutions aimed at improving emergency healthcare delivery rather than punitive outcomes.
