KATH Doctors' Strike Escalates as GMA Demands CEO Return

The Ghana Medical Association has thrown its support behind striking doctors at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, demanding the immediate reinstatement of suspended Chief Executive Officer Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo and warning of possible further action if the dispute is not resolved.

ACCRA, Ghana — The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for the immediate withdrawal of the suspension of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Chief Executive Officer Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, backing striking doctors and escalating a dispute that has exposed wider concerns about healthcare infrastructure and emergency care capacity in Ghana.

The intervention comes after Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh directed the KATH Board to suspend Dr Baidoo following the hospital’s decision to temporarily halt new emergency admissions because of severe congestion at its Accident and Emergency Centre.

Following an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Saturday, the GMA described the suspension as unjustified and called for Dr Baidoo’s reinstatement within three working days.

“Council therefore is of the considered view that the initial query issued and subsequent directive for suspension were without basis and ought not to have been occasioned,” the association said.

GMA Defends KATH Management

The association argued that KATH management acted appropriately and in line with accepted healthcare practice when it temporarily redirected patients to other facilities. According to the GMA, the decision was intended to protect patient safety during a period of extreme pressure on the hospital’s emergency department. The association said patients were not abandoned but were redirected to nearby facilities, while specialists from KATH continued to provide support where necessary.

The GMA further stated that coordinated efforts involving the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, the Regional Coordinating Council and other healthcare facilities helped decongest the emergency centre and allowed new admissions to resume within 24 hours.

Support for Doctors’ Strike

The association formally endorsed the decision by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) to embark on an indefinite withdrawal of services until the suspension is reversed and broader measures are implemented to improve emergency healthcare capacity in Kumasi.

Doctors at KATH have argued that the crisis reflects longstanding structural challenges within the health sector and should not be blamed on hospital administrators attempting to manage overwhelming patient numbers. Among their demands are clearer policies for managing emergency overcrowding, accelerated operationalisation of Sewua Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, and additional investment in healthcare infrastructure across the Ashanti Region.

Sharp Criticism of Health Minister

The GMA also criticised Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, accusing him of actions that have contributed to declining morale among health professionals.

The association said it was concerned by what it described as efforts that had “directly or indirectly sought to incite the public against health workers”, warning that such developments could further damage relations between healthcare workers and government. The statement urged the minister to pursue dialogue and constructive engagement with healthcare professionals rather than confrontation.

“We call on the Minister to cease these hostile and confrontational actions and engage constructively to ensure improved morale and the continued support of health workers towards achieving objectives of the sector.”

The GMA warned that if the situation continues unresolved, it may consider additional measures to protect the interests of its members and the healthcare sector.

Wider Questions About Ghana’s Health System

The dispute has evolved beyond the suspension of a hospital chief executive and now raises broader questions about emergency healthcare capacity in one of Ghana’s busiest referral hospitals. KATH serves as a major tertiary referral centre for the Ashanti Region and much of northern Ghana. Doctors have repeatedly highlighted overcrowding, infrastructure constraints and increasing patient demand as challenges requiring long-term policy solutions.

Healthcare analysts say the outcome of the current standoff could have implications for how hospital managers respond to future capacity crises and how government balances accountability with clinical decision-making. At the time of publication, the Ministry of Health had not announced any reversal of the suspension.