The Chairman of the Komfo Anokye Doctors’ Association (KADA), Dr. Michael Leat, has called on the government to operationalise the Afari Military Hospital and Sewua Government Hospital to help ease congestion and bed shortages at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
He explained that the two hospitals have a combined capacity of about 600 beds, with Afari Military Hospital providing 100 beds and Sewua Hospital offering 500 beds.
He noted that these two health facilities have already been constructed and only require operationalisation and adequate resourcing to begin serving patients.
His appeal follows recent concerns over overcrowding at KATH’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre, which prompted a query involving the hospital’s management.
Speaking in an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 4, 2026, with Sammie Wiafe, Dr. Leat said the congestion at KATH reflects broader challenges within Ghana’s healthcare system, including overcrowding, inadequate resources and the growing referral burden on the facility.
According to him, KATH serves as the main tertiary referral hospital for the Ashanti Region, placing immense pressure on its infrastructure and personnel.
Dr. Leat urged authorities to focus on addressing the systemic issues confronting the hospital rather than assigning blame.
“Yes, there’s overcrowding. What we’re saying is that the Health Ministry should help to take away some of the burden from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. There should be collaboration between Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the Health Ministry and other health facilities.
“We have hospitals that have been built; all we need is to operationalise them and retool the various hospitals around KATH.
He added, “All these things are not done, and the burden is on KATH. If we try to help so that patients are saved, and staff are overwhelmed, and we are queried, then we need to look at the health system very well.
“The two hospitals, Afari Military Hospital and Sewua Hospital, should be operationalised. One is a 100-bed capacity, and one is a 500-bed capacity. If we can be able to operationalise these hospitals, I don’t think we will be in this situation.”
He stressed that expanding access to healthcare services through the activation of dormant facilities would help improve patient care and reduce the burden on health workers at KATH.
