The Ministry of Health has defended its decision to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, stating that the decision was “carefully considered.”
According to the ministry, the decision was taken in the best interest of institutional accountability, patient safety, and the need to uphold administrative discipline within the health sector.
In a statement, it explained that the suspension followed Dr. Baidoo’s public announcement of the cessation of admissions at the emergency unit, which was inconsistent with a directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama.
It expressed concern that the closure of a major emergency facility at one of Ghana’s leading referral hospitals could have serious implications for patient care and therefore required strict adherence to established administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the suspension is unrelated to internal arrangements between the hospital and the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, contrary to claims circulating in the public domain.
“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,” It emphasised.
The ministry was quick to highlight that the suspension is not intended to “punish efforts aimed at protecting patients; rather, it seeks to ensure accountability, proper communications, and adherence to national health policies and directives.”
The Ministry acknowledged the concerns of staff of the facility amid their strike and appealed to them to reconsider their industrial action and return to work, as dialogue and established dispute resolution channels to address the matter.
