The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has successfully brokered a resolution with striking health unions at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) following a high-stakes stakeholder meeting held on Sunday, 7th June 2026.
The meeting aimed to address the ongoing impasse that triggered strike actions by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) over the suspension of the KATH Chief Executive Officer and various operational grievances.
Speaking to the media after the closed-door session, Dr Amoakohene announced that a consensus had been reached.
He noted that while a resolution is on the table, the unions will independently communicate the specific outcomes to their members.
The Regional Minister also committed to forwarding the details to the sector Health Minister to ensure immediate implementation.
“We want to assure the general public that these issues will be resolved swiftly to prevent further disruptions to healthcare delivery,” Amoakohene said, emphasising KATH’s critical strategic location servicing the central part of the nation.
He further commended the Health Minister and the union leadership for their cooperation during the deliberations.
The stakeholder meeting brought together key regional officials and medical representatives, including the Regional Health Director, the Regional Coordinating Director, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, and representatives from the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), KADA, and GRNMA.
Strategic Infrastructure to Ease Pressure on KATH
In a bid to permanently resolve the persistent congestion at KATH, Dr Amoakohene also provided updates on several delayed peripheral healthcare infrastructure projects, including the Afari, Trede, and Oforikrom hospital facilities.
He revealed that equipment installations have officially commenced at these sites, backed by freshly secured funding aimed at helping contractors finish the final structural work.
Consequently, the Regional Health Director has initiated a staff rationalization and deployment strategy to ensure these facilities are fully staffed and operational ahead of their upcoming commissioning.
Introducing ‘Reverse Referrals’ and Consultant Mobility
Beyond infrastructural expansion, the Regional Minister detailed innovative policy concepts currently under review to optimise hospital capacity and streamline patient care in the region.
The administration is exploring a “reverse referral system” where patients referred from peripheral facilities, such as the Tafo Government Hospital, would be sent back to their local hospitals for long-term recovery once their condition is stabilised at KATH.
This strategy aims to free up critical beds at the teaching hospital.
Additionally, they are evaluating the feasibility of deploying KATH’s specialised medical consultants directly to local district hospitals, bringing expert care directly to communities rather than forcing patients to travel to the regional capital.
Dr Amoakohene stated that these operational strategies will undergo thorough assessment and a public engagement phase before being finalised, ensuring that the community remains fully informed of the new healthcare directives.