Rehabilitation work on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has stalled for the past three months due to a growing conflict between the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer and the HEAL KATH project committee.
The HEAL KATH initiative—launched by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II—aims to refurbish the aging traditional wards of the over 70-year-old hospital, which serves as a referral center for 12 regions across Ghana.
In March 2025, the Asantehene visited the site to inspect progress on the first phase and expected the second phase to follow shortly. However, ongoing friction between the committee and KATH’s new CEO, Dr. (Med) Paa Kwesi Baidoo, appears to have derailed the timeline.
Chairman of the HEAL KATH Project Committee, Samuel Adu Boakye, recalled what he described as a “disrespectful” encounter with the new CEO, who allegedly demanded project reports in a confrontational manner. Adu Boakye insisted that any request should be made formally, especially given the high-profile nature of the committee’s members.
“Two days before Otumfuo’s recommendation to collaborate with the new leadership, I was informed that the CEO wanted a report. I advised that he write officially, after which we’d arrange a formal meeting,” he said in an interview with Luv FM.
According to Adu Boakye, the CEO later called him directly and, after a tense exchange over the scope of the CEO’s authority regarding the project, ended the call abruptly. He emphasized that the HEAL KATH project operates independently of KATH’s management structure to ensure continuity regardless of administrative changes.
Following this exchange, the committee received a letter from the CEO requesting detailed financial documentation, including audited accounts, bank balances, and committee member information. In response, the committee—under the direction of the Hiahene, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Owoahene II—urged restraint and emphasized that a comprehensive report was being compiled for review by the Asantehene before submission to the presidency.
“We acknowledge the CEO’s interest, but we advise patience while we prepare a full report for Otumfuo’s approval. Let’s avoid unnecessary tension between the committee and new hospital leadership,” Adu Boakye read from the letter.
Project Progress and Outlook
The HEAL KATH project, launched in November 2023, was initially slated for completion within two years. However, rising economic pressures and dwindling financial support from the public have led to delays.
As of March 2025, over $4 million out of a targeted $10 million had been raised, with the first phase of the project—two renovated floors in Block A—reported to be 95% complete. The remaining task is the installation of an oxygen bedhead system.
Architect and project consultant Kojo Darko-Asante confirmed the committee is ready to present audited reports. “We have nothing to hide. This is all being done for Otumfuo. Every cedi will be accounted for,” he assured.
The HEAL KATH project is one of the legacy initiatives commemorating Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s 25th anniversary as Asantehene and symbolizes a broader effort to revamp Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure.
