KATH Doctors Begin Indefinite Strike Over CEO’s Suspension, Demand Action on Hospital Congestion

Doctors at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital have declared an indefinite withdrawal of services from 6:00 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026, protesting the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.

The strike was announced by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association after an emergency meeting on June 5 to review recent events at KATH, including severe congestion at the Emergency Department and the CEO’s two-week suspension by the Health Minister.

In a notice to the KATH Board Chairman, the association said management’s decision to temporarily halt new emergency admissions and coordinate with nearby health facilities was necessary to prevent avoidable deaths and protect patients. Instead, it said, the move led to disciplinary action against the CEO, which doctors described as unjustified and counterproductive.

KADA noted that KATH serves as the main tertiary referral hospital for Ghana’s middle and northern sectors but continues to face major infrastructure gaps amid a growing patient load. The group argued that the crisis reflects longstanding systemic deficiencies and needs policy and infrastructure fixes, not punishment of administrators trying to manage the situation.

Following deliberations, members unanimously condemned the CEO’s suspension, saying it would not solve the hospital’s challenges and could weaken efforts to improve care.

The doctors say the strike will continue until their demands are met. Key among them is the review and reversal of the CEO’s suspension.

They also want the KATH Board to set clear policies for handling cases where emergency capacity is exceeded.

Further, KADA is demanding timelines from the Ministry of Health for operationalising Sewua Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, and for retooling KATH and other hospitals in the Ashanti Region to reduce pressure on the facility.