Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has defended the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), insisting that no individual has the authority to close any section of a public health facility without approval from the government.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the minister explained that the decision to ask the CEO to step aside for two weeks followed actions that contradicted a policy directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama regarding emergency healthcare delivery.

Nobody has the right to attack health workers - Mintah Akandoh

According to him, the President had made it clear that no health facility in the country should turn away emergency cases, regardless of the circumstances.

“His Excellency the President issued a policy direction in the health sector that no facility should turn away emergency cases, and His Excellency added that even if the life of the person must be saved on the ground, we should do so,” Akandoh told Parliament.

He stressed that the President’s pronouncement constituted a government policy that must be implemented by the Health Ministry and all health institutions under its supervision.

The minister revealed that a public statement had subsequently been issued indicating that KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre had been closed and that no more patients would be admitted to the facility.

“Nobody, absolutely nobody in this country has the right to close any portion of a public facility without the consent of the state, in this case the minister,” he stated.

Mr Akandoh said he immediately summoned the hospital’s CEO to explain the decision, questioning whether the move was in direct conflict with the President’s directive. According to the minister, the CEO admitted his mistake during the meeting.

“The man admitted and apologised before me and other officers,” he disclosed.

To ensure accountability and send a strong message to managers of public health institutions, the minister said the Health Ministry directed the hospital’s board to ask the CEO to step aside temporarily while investigations are conducted.

“To send a clear signal, and punitive actions are meant to serve as deterrents, we proceeded to direct the board to allow the said CEO to step aside for two weeks and then investigate the issue,” he explained.

Akandoh also rejected suggestions that he required Parliament’s approval before taking such action, arguing that the directive fell within his administrative authority as sector minister.

“Is it a decision for which I needed the approval of the House? Is it an administrative directive?” he asked.

Citing Section 36 of the law establishing teaching hospitals, the minister maintained that boards of teaching hospitals are required to implement directives issued by the minister, adding that ministerial decisions are not subject to review by the boards.

“The decision of the minister is not subject to the review of the board. It is the decision of the board that is subject to the review of the minister,” he said.

The minister further noted that administrative decisions such as opening recruitment portals for health workers do not require prior approval from Parliament, although lawmakers are free to summon him through the appropriate parliamentary processes if they require clarification on any matter.

NA/BAI