The Asante Youth Association (AYA) has called on the government to reverse its decision to remove Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
The Association insists that Prof. Addai-Mensah should be allowed to serve the remaining two years of his contract to complete the “Heal Komfo Anokye Project,” a major hospital transformation initiative launched in collaboration with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
At a press conference in Kumasi on Monday, ahead of a scheduled board meeting to usher in a new CEO for the premier health facility, Nana Oppong Boadi, Vice President of AYA, expressed the group’s strong disapproval of the move.
Before the press conference, AYA leadership met with various youth groups planning to disrupt the board meeting. Nana Boadi said they appealed to the groups to remain calm as the Association sought dialogue with Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene, the Hiahene and Board Chairman of KATH.
He warned that the abrupt removal of Prof. Addai-Mensah, the lead figure behind the ongoing hospital facelift, would jeopardise the progress of the project.
The Vice President of AYA also claimed the dismissal lacked the endorsement of President John Dramani Mahama and urged the President to personally intervene and reinstate the CEO.
“We understand that Otumfuo discussed with the President and secured an agreement that Prof. Addai-Mensah would be allowed to complete his term to see the project through,” he asserted.
He further argued that removing Prof. Addai-Mensah at this critical time could diminish donor and investor confidence, potentially stalling the transformative initiative.
Beyond the Heal Komfo Anokye Project, AYA commended Prof. Addai-Mensah’s leadership, describing it as exemplary and instrumental in promoting professionalism and accountability at the hospital.
“The youth in the region are very angry. They wanted to storm the hospital in protest, but we have urged restraint while we seek redress through engagement with the Board Chairman,” Nana Boadi stated.
He cautioned against politicising the management of KATH, a facility that serves patients from nine regions, warning that such actions risk undermining quality healthcare delivery.
Source: GNA
