Health Minister Suspends KATH CEO for Two Weeks Over Emergency Admissions Controversy
Health Minister orders the temporary suspension of KATH's CEO and launches an investigation into the hospital's decision to halt emergency admissions.
- KATH CEO suspended for two weeks with immediate effect.
- Ministry says emergency admission halt breached presidential directive.
- Hospital board ordered to investigate and submit report.
The Minister of Health 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 following the controversial suspension of emergency admissions at the facility.
In a letter dated June 5, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the KATH Board, the Minister stated that the suspension was issued under Section 36 (1) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 526).
According to the letter, the CEO was suspended for causing the announcement of the suspension of emergency admissions at KATH on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, a decision the Minister said contradicted a directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama instructing health facilities not to turn away emergency cases.
The Minister noted that during a meeting held on June 4, 2026, the Chief Executive admitted that the announcement had been made under his authority. The meeting was attended by the Ministry’s Chief Director, Technical Advisor, and Legal Advisor.
The Ministry further cited comments made by the Head of Public Affairs at KATH during an interview with Channel One Newsroom, where the hospital’s suspension of new emergency admissions was publicly confirmed. According to the Minister, those comments also ran contrary to the President’s directive.
Beyond the suspension, the Health Minister has instructed the KATH Board to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the decision and determine the authority under which the Head of Public Affairs granted the media interview.
The Board has also been tasked with establishing whether the comments made during the interview reflected an official management decision. Where necessary, the Minister said appropriate sanctions should be applied.
The suspended CEO has been directed to report to the Ministry upon the expiration of the two-week suspension period.
Additionally, the KATH Board has been given two weeks to complete its investigations and submit a report to the Minister.
The latest development follows public concern over reports that KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre had temporarily halted admissions due to severe overcrowding and capacity challenges. The facility, which was designed to accommodate a limited number of patients, has reportedly been operating beyond its intended capacity in recent months.
The Ministry’s action underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that emergency healthcare services remain accessible to the public despite operational challenges facing healthcare facilities across the country.
