The Legacy and Evolution of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Perched on a hill overlooking the historic Bantama township in Kumasi, a hospital once stood in the 1940s that marked an era of both colonial segregation and early institutional healthcare in Ghana. The facility was divided into two separate sections: one for Africans and the other for Europeans. As the names indicated, Africans were treated in the African section, while Europeans accessed care in the European wing. On rare occasions, however, senior African government officials were treated in the European section, a reflection of the rigid social and racial hierarchies of the time.

By 1952, Kumasi’s rapidly growing population, along with the broader demands of the Ashanti region, made it clear that a larger, more modern hospital was urgently needed. To create space for this new facility, the European Hospital was relocated to the Kwadaso Military Quarters (also known as Sofo Line), allowing preparations for the new hospital to begin in earnest.

Construction was completed in 1954 by the British contractors Messrs. GEE Walter & Slater. The new facility was initially called Kumasi Central Hospital. Not long after, it was renamed Komfo Anokye Hospital to honor the legendary priest Okomfo Anokye, a revered figure in Asante history whose spiritual influence is credited with helping unify the Ashanti Kingdom.

The hospital achieved teaching hospital status in 1975 following the establishment of the School of Medical Sciences at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), now known as the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Since then, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has become a central hub for clinical training, particularly for medical and dental students, and plays a vital role in training pharmacists, nurses, and other allied health professionals across the country.

Today, KATH is also a key center for postgraduate medical education in various specialties. Beyond its clinical services, the hospital’s Directorates and Units contribute significantly to medical research. Many of these studies have been published in respected national and international peer-reviewed journals, helping shape policy and advance healthcare practice in Ghana and beyond.