Medical doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have announced an indefinite withdrawal of services beginning Saturday, June 6, 2026, in protest against the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.

The action was declared by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) following an emergency meeting held on June 5, 2026, to review developments at the hospital, including congestion at the Emergency Department and recent administrative decisions.

In a statement signed by KADA Chairman, Dr. Michael Leat, the doctors described the suspension of the CEO as “unjustified and counterproductive,” arguing that management’s recent interventions were aimed at safeguarding patient safety under severe pressure on hospital infrastructure.

According to the Association, the Emergency Department had become critically congested, prompting management to temporarily halt new emergency admissions and coordinate patient referrals to nearby facilities to prevent avoidable deaths.

“The decision by management to temporarily halt new emergency admissions and coordinate with surrounding health facilities was an important clinical and administrative intervention intended to prevent avoidable loss of life,” the statement noted.

KADA insisted that rather than addressing the underlying structural challenges, the situation had resulted in disciplinary action against the hospital’s leadership.

The doctors further argued that KATH continues to operate under severe infrastructural constraints despite handling one of the highest patient volumes in the country, describing the situation as a long-standing systemic failure requiring urgent policy attention.

“The current situation reflects longstanding systemic challenges that require urgent policy and infrastructure solutions rather than punitive action against healthcare leaders,” the statement added.

As part of its resolutions, the Association directed all members to withdraw services effective 6:00 a.m. on June 6, 2026, and indicated that the strike would remain in force until the CEO’s suspension is reviewed and reversed.

KADA is also demanding clear operational guidelines from the hospital board on how to manage emergency overflow situations, including when to restrict admissions in the interest of patient safety.

Additionally, the doctors are calling on the Ministry of Health to provide timelines for the completion and operationalisation of the Sewua Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, as well as the retooling of KATH and other health facilities in the Ashanti Region.

The Association said it would engage the public and stakeholders through the media to highlight what it described as a persistent mismatch between patient demand and available healthcare infrastructure.

Despite declaring the strike, the doctors stressed that their action was not intended to disrupt healthcare delivery but to draw attention to issues of patient safety, governance, and the sustainability of healthcare services at one of Ghana’s major teaching hospitals.

“We remain committed to the welfare of our patients and to the delivery of safe, ethical, and evidence-based healthcare,” the statement concluded.