Call 'Rambo-style' Mintah Akandoh to order — Minority tells Mahama
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has strongly criticised Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, accusing him of adopting what it describes as a “Rambo-class” leadership approach, and urging President John Dramani Mahama to urgently rein in the minister amid the controversy surrounding the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo.
The opposition lawmakers argue that the decision to suspend the KATH CEO over the worsening “No-Bed Syndrome” at the country’s second-largest referral facility amounts to scapegoating and does not address the long-standing structural challenges confronting Ghana’s health system.
The controversy stems from the Ministry of Health’s decision to suspend Dr Baidoo following public concern over severe congestion, bed shortages and pressure at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre. The move triggered strike action by doctors and nurses at KATH, further escalating tensions and disrupting healthcare delivery in the Ashanti Region.
In a statement issued on June 7, 2026, and signed by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, the Minority stressed that while avoidable deaths within the health system must always be investigated, it is unfair to place the burden solely on the hospital’s leadership.
The Caucus maintained that the challenges at KATH are the result of years of inadequate infrastructure expansion, delayed projects, weak referral systems, staffing gaps and persistent resource constraints rather than the actions of one administrator.
They further argued that successive governments have long recognised pressure on KATH, leading to the initiation of major health infrastructure projects intended to ease congestion at the facility.
These include the 500 bed Afari Military Hospital and the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua, both of which the Minority says were significantly advanced under the previous New Patriotic Party administration.
According to the Caucus, these facilities were designed to reduce referral pressure on KATH, but their limited operational status has left the teaching hospital still carrying a disproportionate patient load.
It questioned why government would opt to suspend a hospital CEO instead of fast tracking the full operationalisation of these facilities and strengthening the referral system.
The statement also referenced the 2026 Budget Statement, which acknowledged that the Sewua Hospital remains among key health infrastructure projects requiring continued attention, arguing that this reflects ongoing delays in the sector’s expansion targets.
In addition, the Minority pointed to the 100 bed Trede District Hospital and the 100 bed Kokoben Oforikrom District Hospital, commissioned in 2024 with modern medical facilities, but which it claims are still not fully operational nearly two years later.
It argued that these hospitals were meant to ease pressure on KATH, making the continued congestion and subsequent suspension of the CEO difficult to justify.
The Caucus insisted that the “No Bed Syndrome” is a national capacity challenge and should not be reduced to the failure of a single hospital head. It further stated that disciplinary action against Dr Baidoo would not resolve systemic issues such as infrastructure deficits, staffing shortages or equipment gaps.
The Minority also raised concerns about what it described as delays in operationalising key health projects in the Ashanti Region and suggested that public perception is increasingly questioning the pace of development in the area.
Among its demands, the Caucus called for the immediate reversal of the CEO’s suspension pending further investigations, and urged government to expedite the completion and full operation of health facilities including Sewua, Trede and Kokoben Oforikrom, as well as Agenda 111 hospitals.
It also urged government to engage more closely with the Ghana Medical Association and other health stakeholders on the structural causes of the “No Bed Syndrome.”
The statement further criticised the leadership class of the Health Minister, accusing him of sidelining consultation and relying on unilateral decisions. It warned that this approach risks undermining trust within the health sector and described it as increasingly “Rambo-class” governance.
The Minority therefore appealed to President Mahama to intervene and ensure a more consultative and collaborative approach to health sector management.
While backing the concerns raised by health workers, the Caucus also cautioned against prolonged industrial action and urged all parties to pursue dialogue to restore normal healthcare services.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has defended the suspension of Dr Baidoo, insisting it was necessary to uphold accountability and patient safety.
The Ministry explained that the action followed the hospital’s decision to temporarily halt new admissions at the Accident and Emergency Centre due to severe congestion, a move it said was inconsistent with presidential directives requiring all public hospitals to continue providing emergency care without turning patients away.
It maintained that the CEO’s decision was taken without proper authorization and therefore required administrative intervention, adding that the suspension is a temporary measure to allow for investigations.
The Ministry further clarified that the action affects Dr Baidoo in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer and not as a medical practitioner.
It also outlined ongoing reforms in the health sector, including the establishment of a National Bed Management System, retooling of major hospitals, expansion of emergency services and continued work on selected Agenda 111 projects.