“Nobody has right to close any portion of a public health facility without consent of the Minister” - Health Minister justifies suspension of KATH CEO

Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has strongly defended the decision to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), arguing that no individual has the authority to close any portion of a public health facility without the approval of the State, represented by the Health Minister.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Akandoh rejected suggestions that the Ministry required parliamentary approval before taking disciplinary action against the hospital’s CEO over the temporary closure of the Accident and Emergency Centre.

According to the Minister, the Executive arm of government has the mandate to carry out its responsibilities and impose sanctions where necessary without seeking prior approval from Parliament.

“I do not remember any time that the Executive arm of government, in executing its responsibilities or rendering punitive actions, needed the permission of Parliament to do so,” he stated.

The Minister explained that the controversy arose after a public announcement indicated that KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre had been closed and that no more patients would be received at the facility.

He noted that the closure directly contradicted a policy directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama, who had instructed that no health facility should turn away emergency cases.

The President, he said, had made it clear that every effort must be made to save lives, even if treatment had to begin outside a hospital building.

“When the President speaks, it becomes government policy, and it is the responsibility of the Minister to ensure that policy is implemented,” Akandoh stressed.

He maintained that no person has the authority to close any section of a public health facility without the consent of the Health Minister.

“Nobody, absolutely nobody in this country, has the right to close any portion of a public health facility without the consent of the State, in this case, the Minister,” he declared.

The Health Minister revealed that following the announcement, he summoned the hospital’s CEO and questioned whether the decision to close the emergency centre was consistent with the President’s directive.

According to him, the CEO admitted that the action was contrary to the directive and subsequently apologised in the presence of ministry officials.

To ensure accountability and serve as a deterrent, Akandoh said the Ministry directed the hospital’s governing board to have the CEO step aside for two weeks while investigations into the matter are conducted.

He further cited Section 36 of the law establishing teaching hospitals, arguing that ministerial directives are binding on hospital boards and that decisions of the Minister are not subject to review by the board.

Rather, he said, it is the board’s decisions that can be reviewed by the Minister.

Mr. Akandoh also questioned criticism of the Ministry’s actions, insisting that the suspension was within the powers of the Executive and did not require parliamentary endorsement.

He advised Members of Parliament seeking further explanations on the matter to use the appropriate parliamentary processes, including filing questions for him to appear before the House and provide answers.

The Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing public debate over the temporary closure of KATH’s Accident and Emergency Centre and the subsequent suspension of the hospital’s CEO, a move that has generated significant discussion within the health sector and Parliament.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith