The Ministry of Health has summoned the Head of Public Affairs at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kwame Frimpong, following public statements announcing the temporary suspension of admissions at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre due to severe congestion.The move comes after the Ministry expressed concern over reports that the country’s second-largest referral hospital had halted the admission of new emergency cases for a 24-hour period, a decision which it says contradicts a standing directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama that no hospital should turn away emergency patients.In a letter issued by the Ministry on Wednesday, June 3, Mr Frimpong was directed to appear before the Minister for Health by noon on Thursday, June 4, 2026, to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for publicly affirming the hospital management’s decision.The controversy stems from a statement released by KATH’s Public Affairs Unit indicating that the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre had reached critical capacity and could no longer safely admit additional patients.According to the statement, the facility’s emergency unit, originally designed to accommodate 37 patients, was operating far beyond its intended capacity. Hospital authorities disclosed that 61 patients were already occupying the Orange, Yellow and Red critical care wards, while a further 34 patients were waiting to receive medical attention.Speaking on Channel One Television News, Mr Frimpong reportedly reiterated the hospital’s position, explaining that the overwhelming number of patients had placed immense pressure on staff, resources and available bed space.The hospital subsequently advised the public and ambulance services to consider alternative healthcare facilities for emergency referrals during the period of congestion.However, the Ministry of Health has taken issue with the announcement, arguing that the hospital’s public position runs contrary to government policy regarding emergency healthcare delivery. READ ALSO: KATH suspends admission of new cases at Accident and Emergency Centre over congestionIn its correspondence to the KATH official, the Ministry noted that it had observed the statement circulating widely on social media and had also monitored comments made on national television affirming the hospital’s inability to receive additional emergency cases.The Ministry stressed that President Mahama had previously issued a clear directive to all healthcare facilities across the country not to reject or turn away emergency patients under any circumstances.Officials maintain that while hospitals may face operational challenges, emergency care remains a fundamental obligation of healthcare institutions, particularly tertiary referral centres entrusted with the care of critically ill and injured patients.“The Ministry of Health has taken note of a statement with the above caption making rounds on social media,” the letter stated, adding that the Public Affairs Head had publicly affirmed the decision of hospital management regarding the inability of the emergency centre to admit new cases.The Ministry subsequently directed the official to provide justification as to why disciplinary measures should not be imposed for allegedly contradicting the President’s directive.