Health Minister Suspends KATH CEO for Two Weeks Over Emergency Admissions announcement

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed the Board of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to suspend the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer for two weeks with immediate effect.

The suspension follows the CEO’s decision to announce a suspension of admissions for emergency cases at KATH on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

In a letter dated June 5, 2026, to the Board Chairman, the Minister cited Section 36(1) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 526) as the basis for the directive. The CEO is to report back to the Minister after serving the two-week suspension.

According to the letter, the CEO admitted before the Minister on Wednesday, June 4, 2026, that the announcement was contrary to clear directives of the President. The meeting was attended by the Chief Director, the Technical Advisor and the Legal Advisor to the Minister.

The Minister also referenced an interview granted to Channel One Newsroom by the Head of Public Affairs Unit at KATH on the suspension of emergency admissions. That announcement, the Minister said, also went against the President’s directives.

Mr. Akandoh has further requested the Board to conduct a thorough investigation into what authority the Head of Public Affairs had to grant the interview to Channel 1 Newsroom, and whether it was a management decision. He said appropriate sanctions should be applied where necessary.

The Board has been asked to submit a report to the Minister within two weeks.

The letter was copied to the Deputy Minister of Health, the Chief Director, the Technical Advisor, and the Chief Executive Officer of KATH.