This week has appeared to be particularly challenging for both the Tamale Teaching Hospital and the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, as both parties have become the focal points of intense public attention and scrutiny.
Both have come under the spotlight, not for commendable reasons, but rather in a context that has sparked serious concerns about the inadequacy and underfunding of healthcare facilities across the country.
The situation has also highlighted the difficult conditions under which health workers operate, even as they are expected to deliver quality healthcare services to patients.
But what exactly triggered this entire brouhaha, leading to such drastic action, including suspensions, dismissals, and disruption of services?
GhanaWeb chronicles all the developments that have ensued from the beginning.
Genesis (Death of a patient)
A patient, who according to the TTH, had been transferred to the facility for a specialised procedure, passed away, with some individuals attributing the death to alleged medical negligence on the part of the hospital.
However, the hospital refuted the allegations, stating that they were inaccurate accounts of what exactly happened.
In a statement, the hospital said, “The Management of Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) has taken note of reports circulating on social media concerning the unfortunate death of a patient at our Accident and Emergency Ward. These reports include allegations of negligence on the part of the hospital. Preliminary findings indicate that the patient, who was referred from another facility, required a specialised procedure that, regrettably, is not yet available at TTH.”
It added, “Additionally, all four of our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, which serve the entire Northern Ghana, were fully occupied at the time of the patient’s arrival. While we acknowledge and understand the public’s concern, we respectfully urge all stakeholders to remain calm and avoid drawing premature conclusions. The hospital has constituted an internal investigative team to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
Mintah Akandoh’s visit
Following the patient’s death, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, made what has bee reported widely as an unannounced visit to the facility to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
While seeking answers, the minister was captured on video in a heated exchange with Dr Valentine Akwulupwa, Head of the Emergency and Accident Ward, expressing dissatisfaction with the official’s manner of communication later in their interactions.
Mintah Akandoh, expressing his displeasure, could be heard saying; “Even me a minister, look at the way you are behaving in front of me, so, you can imagine how you treat others.”
He further went on to condemn the official’s behavior, raising concerns about the facility’s approach to communication, particularly in how it engages with ordinary citizens who seek medical care.
“How can you behave like this. It means you are doing worse things here. I’m even worried about [sic]. There is a problem here so if a commoner comes around how can they talk to this man here. How would he be able to communicate with them. There is a problem,” Akandoh fumed.
Dismissal of CEO
Not long after the minister’s visit, he announced the immediate dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr Adam Atiku.
The dismissal was confirmed across multiple news portals, including on JoyNews’ X page, quoting the minister; “I have formally sacked the CEO of the Tamale Teaching Hospital with immediate effect.”
The decision came amid growing frustrations over the deteriorating state of healthcare delivery at TTH, where several essential medical machines are reportedly out of service, despite full payments having been made to suppliers.
Statement on minister’s confrontation
The Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) warned against the unjust condemnation of health workers by authorities in response to poor outcomes.
According to the association, if health workers are not adequately equipped and provided with the necessary tools to ensure the effective delivery of their services, yet are held accountable and blamed for poor outcomes, they will be compelled to reconsider their options.
The association also expressed its concerns regarding the public confrontation between Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and Dr Valentine Akwulpwa, a staff member of the medical facility, during the minister’s visit.
They deemed the minister’s public interrogation of Dr Akwulpwa, the Head of the Accident and Emergency Department at the facility, as ‘inappropriate.’
GMA responds
The Ghana Medical Association criticised Kwabena Mintah Akandoh for his dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) and his heated confrontation with the Head of the Accident and Emergency Department at the facility.
In response to the incident, which has attracted public attention, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the mother body representing the medical profession, said that the minister’s actions were an “abuse of power.”
The GMA explained that the manner in which the dismissal was carried out was offensive, adding that it did not adhere to the proper procedures required by law.
Suspension of services
Meanwhile, doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have indefinitely suspended emergency and outpatient services, including the general OPD, antenatal clinic, specialist clinic, and paediatrics OPD in protest of the minister’s actions.
This decision follows recent developments at the facility, which escalated during a surprise visit by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, resulting in a heated exchange with members of the hospital’s management team.
They have indicated that they will resume provision of emergency and outpatient services only when the apologies are made in a short period.
“With immediate effect, all members of DATTH have proceeded on an indefinite suspension of all emergency and outpatient services (General OPD, Antenatal clinic, Specialist clinic, Paediatrics OPD). Inpatient care shall continue for our clients currently on admission until they are safely discharged from the hospital,” a statement dated April 23, 2025 stated.
The issues surrounding the TTH are developing and GhanaWeb will provide updates in subsequent reports as and when they happen.
MAG/AE
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