The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has temporarily suspended the admission of new cases at its Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre due to severe congestion.

In a statement, the hospital said the centre is operating beyond capacity and will not accept new emergency admissions for the next 24 hours to allow staff to manage the backlog of patients.

Head of Public Affairs, Kwame Frimpong, said the A&E Centre, originally designed as a 37-bed facility, currently has 61 patients admitted across its critical wards, with 34 more waiting to be attended to.

Management said the temporary suspension is intended to prevent further strain on the facility and ensure critically ill patients receive the necessary care.

The hospital has advised the public to seek treatment at other hospitals in the Ashanti Region until the situation improves.

KATH said it is also working with the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate to strengthen support from satellite health facilities.

The hospital clarified that neonatal, paediatric and obstetric emergency services remain unaffected by the temporary measure.

“The current situation is being periodically reviewed as our emergency physician specialists and other medical staff are doing their best to manage the surge in cases at the A&E Centre and new admissions will be allowed as soon as things get under control,” the statement said.

KATH serves as a major referral centre for 12 of Ghana’s 16 regions and continues to face pressure from high patient volumes.