Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh is facing intense backlash from youth groups in the Ashanti Region following the sudden dismissal of Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah as Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
Prof. Addai-Mensah, who spearheaded key reforms at Ghana’s second-largest referral hospital, was relieved of his post last week after a closed-door meeting with the Health Minister.
The Ministry has yet to officially state the reasons for the decision.
However, the move has triggered strong opposition from the Asante Youth Association (AYA), whose members staged a protest over the weekend, expressing dissatisfaction with what they described as a politically motivated dismissal. Demonstrators gathered at the residence of the Otumfuo Hiahene — who chairs the hospital’s governing board — urging traditional authorities to intervene.
“This is not the time to engage in politics,” said Baba Alhaji, a vocal member of the group. “We demand that authorities rescind this decision. If that does not happen, we will resist it at all cost.”
AYA leadership had to step in to de-escalate the protest, as tensions ran high with some members threatening to block the Board Chair from attending a scheduled meeting. Vice President of the Association, Nana Oppong Boadi, appealed for calm while calling on the John Mahama administration to reconsider the decision for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, a senior consultant at KATH, is reportedly being lined up to take over as CEO and is expected to be introduced to the hospital management later today.
