A tense standoff between health workers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the Ministry of Health, and the National Labour Commission (NLC) has escalated into a full-blown institutional crisis, raising concerns over patient safety and the stability of Ghana’s second-largest teaching hospital.

The dispute, triggered by the suspension of KATH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, has sparked a chain reaction of industrial actions and regulatory interventions, leaving hundreds of patients stranded and healthcare delivery severely disrupted at the facility in Kumasi.

At the centre of the crisis are medical doctors, nurses, and professional associations who have taken opposing positions on the suspension, while the NLC has moved to declare the resulting strike action illegal.

Doctors’ strike declared unlawful by NLC

The National Labour Commission has directed the Komfo Anokye Doctors’ Association (KADA) to immediately call off its indefinite strike, describing the action as unlawful and inconsistent with Ghana’s labour laws.

In a statement issued in Accra, the Commission said it had taken note of media reports confirming the withdrawal of services by doctors at KATH following internal disagreements over administrative decisions at the hospital.

KADA had, in a letter dated June 5, 2026, formally notified the hospital board of its decision to embark on strike, with copies sent to the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Health.

The association cited dissatisfaction with operational and administrative decisions, which it said compelled members to withdraw services indefinitely.

However, the NLC maintained that the notice failed to comply with statutory procedures governing industrial action.

“KADA is advised that the notice was improperly served because it was not compliant with the relevant provisions of the Labour Law. Consequently, the Commission in exercise of its powers under section 139(d) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) directs KADA to call off the strike immediately as the action contravenes sections 162 and 163 of Act 651,” the statement said.

The Commission stressed that adherence to due process was critical to maintaining industrial harmony and safeguarding access to essential healthcare services, particularly in major referral hospitals such as KATH.

GMA demands CEO reinstatement within 3 days

While the NLC moved to halt the strike, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) intensified pressure on government by demanding the immediate reinstatement of the suspended KATH Chief Executive Officer, giving a three-day ultimatum for his return.

The demand followed an emergency meeting of the GMA National Executive Council held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, to deliberate on a directive issued by the Minister of Health, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, ordering the hospital board to suspend the CEO.

In a strongly worded statement signed by GMA President, Prof. Dr. (Med) Ernest Yorke, and General Secretary, Dr. (Dent) Richard Selormey, the association defended management’s handling of a recent congestion crisis at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre.

According to the GMA, the measures taken by hospital management were consistent with global standards of patient safety and responsible healthcare leadership.

“The actions taken by the management of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital were the right and proper professional and administrative decisions in line with best practice in patient safety and responsible healthcare leadership across the world,” the statement said.

The association rejected claims that patients were abandoned or that presidential directives had been ignored.

Instead, it insisted that patients were temporarily redirected to other facilities in a coordinated effort to manage overcrowding and protect lives.

“The actions taken did not turn away patients to their fate or flout the President’s directive but rather redirected patients and ensured they received safe and timely care at nearby hospitals with support from specialists from KATH,” it added.

The GMA said the intervention involved collaboration between the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, the Regional Coordinating Council, and other health facilities, and helped stabilise pressure at the emergency centre.

It therefore demanded the immediate reversal of the suspension and reinstatement of Dr. Baidoo within three days, describing the directive as unjustified and professionally unfounded.

Nurses join agitation amid growing tensions

As the dispute widened, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), KATH branch, also issued notice of industrial action in solidarity with colleagues, further intensifying the strain on hospital operations.

The nurses described the suspension of the CEO as unnecessary and warned that it would not resolve the underlying operational and structural challenges facing the hospital.

At the hospital, the impact was immediate. Hundreds of patients were left stranded, with nurses on duty spending significant time explaining the situation to frustrated families instead of providing care.

Some patients expressed concern over delays in treatment, with several reporting worsening conditions due to lack of access to medical attention.

Doctors begin withdrawal of services

The crisis escalated further when the Komfo Anokye Doctors’ Association formally declared an indefinite withdrawal of services beginning June 6, 2026.

In their notice, the doctors defended management’s handling of the congestion crisis, arguing that the temporary suspension of emergency admissions was a necessary clinical decision to prevent avoidable deaths.

They maintained that KATH, as a major referral centre serving the middle and northern sectors, continues to operate under severe infrastructure constraints that require urgent national attention.

KADA also called for broader reforms, including timelines for the completion of the Sewua and Afari Military hospitals, and improved resourcing for KATH and other regional health facilities.

Patients caught in the middle

The industrial actions have had immediate consequences for patients and caregivers, many of whom have been left stranded at KATH without access to timely care.

Health workers, including nurses still on duty, have had to manage growing frustration among patients while explaining delays caused by the ongoing dispute.

Govt yet to respond

Despite mounting pressure, the Ministry of Health has yet to formally respond to the GMA’s ultimatum or provide clarity on the future of the suspended CEO.

Meanwhile, stakeholders across the health sector warn that the unresolved standoff risks deepening disruptions at one of Ghana’s most critical healthcare facilities, with potential nationwide implications if not urgently resolved.

As the NLC enforces its directive, and health professionals dig in on opposing sides, attention is now focused on government’s next move in what has become one of the most serious labour and governance crises in the health sector in recent years.