KATH Crisis Deepens as Doctors and Nurses Strike Over CEO Suspension Amid Chronic Congestion

Healthcare delivery at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has been severely disrupted as doctors, nurses, and certified anaesthetists continue an industrial action protesting the suspension of the facility's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo. The strike, led by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) and supported by the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), was triggered by the Ministry of Health's decision to suspend Dr. Baidoo for two weeks to facilitate an investigation. The Ministry cited Dr. Baidoo’s unauthorized closure of the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre—a move they claim violated a presidential directive to maintain emergency services—as the basis for the probe. However, hospital staff argue the closure was a necessary safety measure due to extreme overcrowding, leading to a standoff that has left hundreds of outpatients stranded at Ghana’s second-largest referral center.

The Ministry of Health has clarified that Dr. Baidoo’s suspension is purely administrative and does not affect his status as a medical officer. Ministry officials maintain that the suspension is essential for an independent probe into why emergency admissions were halted, emphasizing the need for accountability and patient safety. Conversely, KADA President Dr. Michael Leat reported that the Ministry’s public statements have hindered progress on a resolution, as the medical staff views the suspension as an unjust punishment for managing a crisis caused by infrastructural deficits. In solidarity, the Komfo Anokye Certified Registered Anaesthetist Association (KACRA) has warned of further industrial action, citing ongoing resource constraints and the need for constructive leadership rather than administrative sanctions.

The impact of the strike has been felt most acutely at the Out-Patient Department (OPD), where services have come to a standstill, forcing many patients to appeal for urgent government intervention. Despite the suspension, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo has issued a personal appeal to the striking staff, urging them to prioritize patient welfare and return to work while the administrative issues are resolved. This plea for a return to service has been echoed by parliamentary leaders from both sides. Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, Chairman of the Health Committee, and Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Ranking Member, have called for dialogue and the implementation of public-private partnerships to help decongest KATH by redirecting non-critical cases to private facilities.

While Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene recently announced that a tentative consensus had been reached after stakeholder meetings, the Ashanti Regional GMA remains cautious. GMA Chairman Dr. Hammond Abeiku clarified that the association is awaiting official directives and more consistent communication from the Ministry of Health before fully calling off the action. As mediation continues, health advocates are pushing for long-term solutions, including a reverse referral system and the expedited completion of Agenda 111 hospital projects, to prevent the recurring congestion that precipitated this leadership and service crisis.