The National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has fiercely condemned the Minister of Health’s directive to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), demanding his immediate reinstatement within three working days.
Following an emergency meeting, the GMA leadership strongly defended the KATH administration, stating that recent management decisions were entirely aligned with global best practices in patient safety and responsible healthcare leadership.
The association firmly rejected accusations that the hospital had abandoned patients or flouted presidential directives, clarifying that management had instead strategically redirected patients to nearby facilities with the active support of KATH specialists.
According to the GMA, this coordinated effort successfully decongested the hospital’s Accident & Emergency Centre, allowing new admissions to resume within 24 hours.
“Council therefore is of the considered view that the initial query issued and subsequent directive for suspension were without basis and ought not to have been occasioned,” the GMA stated in an official release signed by President Prof. Dr. Ernest Yorke and General Secretary Dr. Richard Selormey.
The fallout from the Minister’s directive has triggered widespread labor unrest. The GMA threw its full weight behind the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association’s decision to withdraw medical services until the suspension is overturned and regional emergency capacities are improved.
Beyond the immediate dispute at KATH, the GMA expressed deep dissatisfaction with the sector’s political leadership, accusing the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, of inciting public hostility against medical professionals.
The association warned that these confrontational actions have severely demoralized staff and contributed to rising incidents of violence against healthcare workers on the ground.
“If such acts continue, the Association and its members will have no choice but to take remedial actions to ensure the sector does not degenerate into chaos,” the statement warned. While urging its members to remain calm during ongoing deliberations, the council maintained that it will closely monitor the situation and reconvene to determine its next line of action if the health ministry fails to meet its demands.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
