Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana’s second-largest teaching hospital, have commenced a total withdrawal of services effective Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The industrial action, announced by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA), is in protest against the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer and longstanding challenges with severe overcrowding at the Emergency Department.
In a notice dated June 5 and signed by KADA Chairman Dr. Michael Leat, the doctors stated that members unanimously supported the strike following a review of recent developments at the hospital.
The association defended the CEO’s earlier decision to temporarily suspend new emergency admissions and redirect patients to other facilities as a necessary step to protect both patients and staff amid extreme congestion.
“KADA views the suspension as unjustified and counterproductive to ongoing efforts to address systemic challenges confronting the hospital,” the statement said.
The doctors are demanding the immediate reversal of the CEO’s suspension as a precondition for calling off the strike.
They have also called on the KATH Board to develop clear policies for managing situations where emergency facilities exceed capacity, including guidelines on restricting admissions when patient safety is compromised.
Additionally, KADA urged the Ministry of Health to provide concrete timelines for the full operationalisation of Sewua Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, as well as the retooling and expansion of KATH and other facilities in the Ashanti Region to ease the pressure on the hospital.
The association noted that KATH serves as the primary tertiary referral centre for the middle and northern sectors of Ghana but continues to operate under severe infrastructure constraints despite a steady rise in patient numbers.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
