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New KATH CEO unveils strategies to restore facility image as centre of excellence
At the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the heartbeat of Ashanti Region’s healthcare, the machines meant to save lives are either wheezing, silent or missing altogether.
CT scans sit idle. MRI machines have gone mute. The fluoroscopy unit, oxygen plants, and central sterilisation systems—once the backbone of critical care—are now shadows of their former selves.
And in some cases, like the Catheterisation Laboratory and Mammogram unit, there is not even a shadow to speak of. They simply do not exist.
It was against this sobering backdrop that Dr (Med) Paa Kwesi Baidoo, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, addressed staff and stakeholders at KATH’s 2025 Mid-Year Performance Review Conference—his first since assuming office in May.
The event, held as part of the hospital’s 70th anniversary celebrations, was a call to arms.
“I am deeply honoured by the warm welcome,” Dr Baidoo began, “but I am equally sobered by the scale of the challenge before us.”
With conviction, he laid bare the operational deficits of the facility and unveiled a comprehensive strategy to restore KATH’s stature as a true centre of excellence where innovation is nurtured, stakeholder support is visible and valued, and patient care is not just clinical but compassionate and transformative.
To this end, his administration is actively engaging institutions such as the Ministry of Health (MoH), GNPC, Ghana Gas, NHIA, and the Bank of Ghana.
These efforts are already bearing fruit. The NHIA, he announced, has begun procurement of a long-awaited CATHLAB, a critical step toward expanding cardiac care in the region.
Internally, reforms are underway. Outdated policies are being reviewed. New guidelines on Pharmacy Residency Training, Opioid Use, and the hospital’s Disciplinary Code are being drafted plus a Comprehensive Patient Care and Duty Rota Policy aimed at improving staff conduct and service delivery.
Despite the infrastructure gaps, KATH has recorded notable gains in the first half of 2025. Specialist OPD attendance rose five per cent above target. The Oral Health Directorate exceeded its goal by 21 per cent. Radiology output increased by 10 per cent, with other radiological services surging by 95 per cent.
Surgeries rose seven per cent above target, inpatient deaths dropped by 13 per cent, and physiotherapy services improved by 10 percent. Emergency attendance also saw a six per cent uptick.
But the picture is not all rosy as emergency admissions, laboratory services, deliveries, primary care, and radiotherapy all saw declines—underscoring the need for urgent recalibration. But Dr Baidoo remains undeterred.
“The task ahead is arduous, but it is not insurmountable”, he admitted, and pledged to lead with humility, urgency, and resolve—anchored by a vision of excellence and a belief in the power of collective effort.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has confirmed that former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, is in prison and serving her jail term.
Speaking in an interview on Joy news, Mr. Muntaka dismissed claims that the former MASLOC boss was being held in a private location.
He said she has been in the custody of the state since she returned to Ghana.
“From the day Sedina came, she has been with us, and she’s serving her time,” he said.
The minister explained that the public is not usually told the specific prison where inmates, especially high-profile persons, are being held for security reasons.
He said even judges who sentence offenders do not necessarily know the specific prison where they are sent.
“If you want to visit her, you can write to the Prisons Service. They will talk to her, and if she is interested in you coming, she will let you come,” Mr. Muntaka stated.
According to him, disclosing the location of high-profile inmates could put their lives at risk, adding that some developed countries also keep such information confidential for security purposes.
His comments come amid public speculation over the whereabouts of Ms. Tamakloe Attionu following reports that she had returned to Ghana to begin serving her prison sentence.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Western Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO I Cecil Addo, has completed a familiarization tour of major corporate and industrial institutions across the Western Region to strengthen partnerships and enhance fire safety preparedness.
The tour covered key organizations including the Bank of Ghana, GOIL PLC, Ghanstock, Western Terminals, Zen Terminal, Keda Ceramics, Takoradi International Company (TICO), Volta River Authority (VRA), Harlequin Oil and Gas, and Western Serene Atlantic Hotel.
During the engagements, the Regional Commander encouraged management of the institutions to prioritize proactive fire prevention measures by incorporating strict safety protocols into their daily operations.
Discussions also focused on improving fire readiness and strengthening collaboration between GNFS and the corporate sector.
As part of the initiative, GNFS presented firefighting equipment, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) extinguishers, as well as Fire Extinguishing Balls, to support workplace safety.
The institutions expressed appreciation for the outreach and pledged to support regular safety audits, joint emergency drills, and potential Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships with the Service.
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