The Ministry of Health (MoH) in a statement has said the decision to suspend the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, was taken in the interest of accountability.
According to the Health Ministry, the ongoing industrial action by doctors and nurses at KATH is unfortunate.
The Health Ministry disclosed that the suspension was a carefully considered administrative decision taken in the interest of accountability, patient safety, and adherence to established procedures within the health sector.
In a statement issued on Sunday, June 7, the Ministry wrote, “ The Ministry of Health finds the turn of events at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) unfortunate, where members of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association and Nurses Chapter there have embarked on a strike action following an administrative decision taken against the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo of the hospital, for non-compliance with established administrative procedures relating to the closure of a public health facility.
The decision to suspend the CEO of KATH, who is an appointee of HE the President, John Dramani Mahama, was carefully considered and taken in the interest of institutional accountability, patient safety, and the need to uphold administrative discipline within the health sector.
It is important to place on record that the suspension arose from the public announcement of cessation of admission into the Accident and Emergency unit, which is inconsistent with the directive of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana regarding access to emergency healthcare services.
For the avoidance of doubt, this has nothing to do with the internal arrangements agreed between the hospital and the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate. Further, he was suspended by the administrative head of the hospital (CEO), not as a Medical Officer of the hospital.
It will be recalled that, during the State of the Nation Address, His Excellency directed all public health facilities to ensure that patients seeking emergency care receive the necessary attention and are not turned away under any circumstances.
The Ministry is concerned that this directive was disregarded when the Chief Executive Officer announced the closure of the Accident and Emergency Centre of KATH without prior authorisation from the KATH Board and the Ministry for Health.
The suspension of the CEO is therefore an administrative measure intended to facilitate an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the closure and provide remedies going forward”.
The development follows the brouhaha that followed Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, who has directed the Board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to suspend the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, for two weeks with immediate effect.
In a letter dated June 5, 2026, the Health Minister asserted that the decision follows the KATH CEO temporary suspension of emergency admissions at the facility.
The Health Minister highlighted that the action was taken in contravention of directives issued by President John Dramani Mahama.
He disclosed that the meeting involving the Ministry’s Chief Director, Technical Advisor and Legal Advisor concluded that the CEO’s actions were inconsistent with the President’s directives.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has joined the strike action by the Doctors at KATH.
See the post below:
Press Statement ‼️ pic.twitter.com/a0b3dPCwDT
— Ministry of Health, Ghana (@mohgovgh) June 7, 2026
