Doctors in Ghana have urgently asked the government to open two new hospitals. These facilities, the Sewua Government Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, are ready to operate. They have a combined total of 600 beds. Their opening would help ease severe crowding at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). KADA Chairman Dr. Michael Leat made this plea. He leads the Komfo Anokye Doctors’ Association (KADA). This overcrowding is a major problem at KATH.
The Afari Military Hospital has 100 beds. The Sewua Hospital can admit 500 patients. If these hospitals are equipped and running, they can take many patients. This will lighten the load on KATH. Dr. Leat said KATH is too full. This is especially true at its Accident and Emergency Centre. He noted Ghana’s health system has issues. These include not enough buildings and limited resources. KATH also gets many patients from all over the country. It is the main hospital for people needing special care in the Ashanti Region. This puts great pressure on its space and its staff.
This situation fits a larger pattern in Ghana’s public services. The government often faces challenges in delivering essential services. Health infrastructure has been a point of concern for years. Many facilities are completed but remain unused. This is due to a lack of equipment or staff planning. For example, in 2023, budget allocations to a key health fund fell short of targets. This highlights ongoing funding and operational hurdles. KATH’s role as a leading referral centre means it often handles complex cases. This makes it vulnerable to capacity issues.
Dr. Leat spoke on Citi FM on Thursday, June 4, 2026. He told policymakers to find lasting solutions. He said they should not just assign blame. "We have hospitals that have been built; all we need is to operationalise them and retool the various hospitals around KATH," he stated. He added that the delay is making KATH’s situation worse. This affects the quality of care patients receive. "If we can be able to operationalise these hospitals, I don’t think we will be in this situation," he explained.
The continued delay in opening these hospitals could worsen the strain on KATH. It also impacts the care given to patients. Making these unused facilities work would improve patient safety. It would also free up healthcare workers at KATH. This would create a better work environment. It is a call for efficient use of existing public investments. The government's response will show its commitment to addressing critical public health needs.