Health Ministry Defends KATH CEO Suspension as Debates Intensify Over Afari Military Hospital Delays

Ghana’s healthcare sector is facing significant scrutiny following the suspension of Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, CEO of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), and ongoing political disputes regarding the completion of the $180 million Afari Military Hospital. In a briefing to Parliament, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh justified the suspension of Dr. Baidoo, citing the unauthorized closure of KATH’s Accident and Emergency Unit. The Minister emphasized that the move was a direct violation of presidential directives which mandate that no public health facility should deny emergency care to patients.

According to the Ministry, the decision to suspend the CEO was a necessary step toward ensuring accountability and maintaining the integrity of patient care policies. Minister Akandoh revealed that during administrative discussions, Dr. Baidoo acknowledged the lapse in judgment regarding the unit's closure and issued an apology. However, the government maintains that strict adherence to national healthcare protocols is non-negotiable, especially concerning emergency admissions. This administrative shakeup has sparked wide-ranging public debate about the management of the country’s leading referral hospitals and the limits of institutional autonomy.

Simultaneously, the delay in operationalizing the Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region has become a focal point of political contention. Former Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyapong recently criticized the prolonged construction timeline, noting that the project—conceived during the Kufuor administration—remains unfinished despite significant financial investment. Agyapong urged all political stakeholders to accept responsibility for the delays, describing the situation as a major setback for healthcare access for both military personnel and civilians in the region.

In response to these criticisms, NPP health spokesperson Dr. Ekua Amoakoh defended the government’s record, refuting claims that no progress had been made on the Afari project over the last eight years. While acknowledging that the facility was originally slated for completion within 42 months of its 2014 contract, she argued that substantial work was completed prior to shifts in administration. Dr. Amoakoh called for a collaborative approach to resolve the remaining hurdles, emphasizing that finishing the hospital is critical to relieving the pressure on existing facilities like KATH. Together, these developments highlight a pressing need for both administrative accountability and the swift completion of infrastructure to stabilize Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.