The Ministry of Health has justified the suspension of Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), following what it described as his unauthorised decision to close the facility’s Accident and Emergency Centre.
The administrative action has triggered a strike by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association and the local nurses’ chapter, a turn of events the Ministry has described as “unfortunate”.
According to an official statement signed by the Ministry’s Public Relations Unit, the suspension is an administrative measure designed to facilitate an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the closure.
The Ministry emphasised that the decision was carefully considered to uphold institutional accountability and patient safety after Dr. Baidoo failed to comply with established administrative procedures.
The dispute centers on a directive from President John Dramani Mahama during his State of the Nation Address, which explicitly instructed all public health facilities to ensure emergency patients receive care and are not turned away under any circumstances.
The Ministry noted that Dr. Baidoo’s public announcement to cease admissions into the emergency unit directly contravened this presidential mandate without authorisation from either the KATH Board or the Ministry itself.
“For the avoidance of doubt this has nothing to do with the internal arrangements agreed between the hospital and the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate,” the Ministry stated, clarifying that Dr. Baidoo was suspended strictly from his administrative role as CEO and not as a medical officer.
In response to the resulting strike action, government officials are urging healthcare workers to reconsider their stance and utilize established dispute resolution channels rather than disrupting patient care.
The Ghana Health Service has already been directed to implement immediate mitigating measures to keep emergency services accessible while dialogue with the striking staff continues.
Addressing broader grievances raised by the KATH personnel, the Ministry stated that the concerns are receiving urgent attention from the Minister for Health.
Officials highlighted ongoing health sector interventions, including the continuous retooling of major hospitals, the introduction of a National Bed Management System, and steady progress on the Sewua Hospital Project, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
“At no point has the Minister adopted an adversarial posture towards doctors or any category of health professionals,” the statement read, adding that current actions are guided by partnership and professionalism.
The Ministry concluded with an appeal to the striking doctors and nurses to “return to work in the interest of patients and the general population”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
