KATH Doctors embark on indefinite strike over CEO suspension

The action was declared by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) after an emergency meeting held on June 5, 2026, to assess recent developments at the hospital, including congestion at the Emergency Department and the suspension of the CEO.

In a statement addressed to the Chairman of the KATH Board, the association expressed dissatisfaction that interventions introduced by management to cope with the surge in patient numbers and maintain patient safety had instead resulted in disciplinary measures against the hospital’s leadership.

The doctors argued that the temporary suspension of new emergency admissions and the diversion of patients to other health facilities were necessary emergency steps aimed at preventing avoidable deaths under severe pressure on limited resources.

KADA further noted that KATH, a key referral hospital serving Ghana’s middle and northern regions, continues to grapple with long-standing challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and increasing patient load, adding that the current situation reflects broader systemic weaknesses within the health sector.

According to the association, addressing these issues requires urgent investment and sustained policy reforms rather than punitive action against administrators managing difficult circumstances.

Following deliberations, members of the association unanimously condemned the suspension of the CEO and resolved to withdraw services effective 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The doctors maintained that the industrial action will continue until their core demands are met, including a full review and reversal of the CEO’s suspension.

They are also calling on the KATH Board to establish clear guidelines for handling situations where emergency capacity is exceeded.

In addition, KADA is urging the Ministry of Health to provide firm timelines for the operationalisation of the Sewua Hospital and the Afari Military Hospital, alongside a clear roadmap for upgrading KATH and other health facilities in the Ashanti Region to ease pressure on the referral centre.