Health Minister Suspends KATH CEO Over Emergency Admissions Row

Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed the Board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to suspend Chief Executive Officer Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo for two weeks following the hospital’s controversial announcement that it would temporarily halt new emergency admissions.

KUMASI, Ghana — Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed the Board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to suspend its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, for two weeks with immediate effect following the hospital’s announcement that it would temporarily stop admitting new emergency cases.

The directive was contained in a letter dated 5 June 2026 addressed to the Chairman of the KATH Board. The minister said the suspension was necessary because Dr Baidoo authorised the announcement of the suspension of new emergency admissions on 3 June 2026, a decision he said was inconsistent with directives issued by President John Dramani Mahama.

According to the letter, Dr Baidoo subsequently admitted during a meeting with the minister on 4 June that the announcement had been made contrary to instructions from the President. The minister said the meeting was attended by the Chief Director, Technical Advisor and Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Health.

The suspension was issued under Section 36(1) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 526). The minister instructed Dr Baidoo to report directly to him at the conclusion of the two-week suspension period.

Official Ministry of Health letter directing the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. — A Ministry of Health letter orders the temporary suspension of the Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and requests an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the hospital’s actions.

Timeline of Events

3 June 2026: KATH announces the temporary suspension of new emergency admissions.
4 June 2026: Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo meets the Health Minister regarding the decision.
5 June 2026: The Minister directs the KATH Board to suspend the CEO and launch investigations.

Hospital Cited Capacity Pressures

The controversy began when KATH announced that its Accident and Emergency Centre had reached full capacity and would temporarily stop admitting new emergency patients because of severe congestion and pressure on available resources.

Hospital officials had indicated that the emergency unit was operating beyond capacity and facing significant pressure from patient volumes, prompting management to take temporary measures while the situation was addressed. The announcement sparked widespread public concern because KATH is one of Ghana’s largest referral hospitals, serving patients from the Ashanti Region and several neighbouring regions.

Minister Orders Investigation

In his letter, the minister also ordered a separate investigation into comments made by the Head of Public Affairs Unit of KATH during an interview with Channel One News regarding the suspension of emergency admissions. According to the minister, the spokesperson’s comments were likewise inconsistent with directives from the Presidency.

The Board has been tasked with determining whether the comments were made independently or with the approval of hospital management and whether disciplinary action should follow. The minister requested a report on both investigations within two weeks.

Admissions Resume

KATH later resumed admissions after hospital management announced that pressure at the Accident and Emergency Centre had eased. Reports indicated that the temporary suspension was linked to overcrowding, bed shortages and a backlog of patients awaiting treatment. The latest development has intensified debate about healthcare infrastructure, emergency care capacity and management accountability within Ghana’s public health system.

Why This Matters

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is Ghana’s second-largest teaching hospital and one of the country’s most important referral centres. The facility serves millions of people across the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Western North and parts of the Northern regions. Any disruption to emergency services therefore has implications far beyond Kumasi, affecting access to urgent healthcare for patients across a large part of Ghana. The controversy has also renewed discussion about the pressures facing major public hospitals, including rising patient numbers, limited bed capacity and resource constraints.