Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akamdoh and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amokohene, have intervened in a water crisis that forced doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to cancel new surgical cases.

As an interim measure, more water tankers will supply the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital with water.

The hospital has, for over a week now, relied on water supplied from the fire service, private tankers and its own tankers after the Ghana Water Company Limited curtailed its services to the facility due to operational challenges.

This internal arrangement has not been sufficient to meet the growing demand for water by over 12,000 people at the hospital.

Head of Public Affairs at KATH, Kwame Frimpong, gave the breakdown of dependents of water as 6,000 staff members, 4,000 medical students, 1,300 outpatients and 700 admitted patients.

A press release in response to a story by Myjoyonline on the water crisis said water supplied from the hospital’s internal arrangement has not been enough.
"Due to the sheer size of the hospital and its operations, staff and patient numbers, the current supply has been inadequate to meet its full needs," said the hospital.

This development forced doctors at the Trauma and Orthopedic Directorate to cancel all new surgical cases until the water crisis was solved.

The Komfo Anokye Doctors Association, in a memo to management, said the decision was in the best interest of patient care and safety.

Management of KATH has, however, announced the intervention of the ministers in coordinating arrangements to get more tankers to help the hospital.

"The Hon. Minister of Health and the Hon. Ashanti Regional Minister have also intervened and are currently coordinating arrangements to get more water tankers to join the current fleet of tankers to improve the supply of water to the hospital as an interim move to resolve the challenge," the release said.

Meanwhile, management of KATH has appealed for a dedicated pipeline to the facility.

It noted, the current arrangement where the facility shares the same pipeline with other residents of Kumasi is problematic.