Ex-Deputy Health Minister Warns KATH CEO Suspension Could Trigger Healthcare Collapse

Former Deputy Health Minister Alexander Akwasi Acquah has called on Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to reverse the suspension of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital CEO Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, warning that the decision is harsh and risks damaging healthcare delivery.

Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Frontline Show, Acquah said the Ministry should reconsider the sanction and instead focus on fixing long-standing problems in the health sector. He argued that the issues leading to Dr. Baidoo’s suspension reflect deeper structural failures that have been ignored for years.

“I think their demand is for the Minister to relook at the suspension and accept that this situation has come about because we have paid lip service to our healthcare space for too long,” Acquah said.

His comments follow escalating tensions at KATH, where doctors began an indefinite withdrawal of services after the CEO’s suspension. The Komfo Anokye Doctors Association declared the strike on June 5 after an emergency meeting on congestion at the Emergency Department and the suspension.

Acquah blamed inadequate infrastructure and limited investment for the pressure on referral hospitals like KATH, saying the strain makes it hard for professionals to manage rising patient numbers. He said health workers need space and a functional environment to deliver quality care.

He suggested that KATH’s reported move to work with other facilities in its catchment area to manage referrals may have been the most practical step under the circumstances. “For a healthcare professional, it will be out of place to just pile up emergency cases no matter the situation. They need the space and a thriving environment to care for patients,” he stated.

If management collaborated with other hospitals to keep patients in care, Acquah said, that should be seen as protecting patients rather than grounds for punishment.

He warned the dispute could severely affect healthcare delivery if not resolved quickly. “The Minister’s action is a bit harsh and he may have to rescind his decision so that our healthcare doesn’t collapse,” he added.

Meanwhile, patients were left stranded at KATH on Saturday, June 6, as the indefinite strike began. Many raised concerns about the impact on their health, especially those with chronic conditions.