The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has demanded an unqualified apology from the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Tamale North Member of Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini, for what it describes as “unwarranted attacks” on staff of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), following the controversial dismissal of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
During a working visit to TTH on April 22, Health Minister Akandoh expressed dissatisfaction over the non-functional state of essential medical equipment, including ventilators, MRI scanners, and diagnostic tools. He called the facility’s condition “an unacceptable state of neglect,” and criticised the outsourcing of basic medical services to private clinics.
In response, the Minister pledged to address equipment maintenance issues across public health facilities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 23, the GMA condemned the actions of the Minister during his recent visit to the facility, stating that the removal of the CEO, Dr. Adam Atiku, was procedurally flawed and smacked of executive overreach.
“The manner in which the dismissal was carried out is an affront to due process and abuse of power by the Hon. Minister of Health. The GMA stands in solidarity with our colleagues in the wake of these injustices being perpetuated,” the Association stated.
The Association also took issue with what it labelled a “media audit” surrounding a patient’s death at the hospital’s emergency unit, warning that it endangered confidentiality, exposed the institution to legal risk, and skewed public perception.
According to the GMA, fallout from the case has subjected the head of the Emergency Unit to threats and online harassment, putting both his personal safety and mental health in jeopardy.
“These acts, if continued, have the tendency of demoralising committed workers and reducing public confidence in the health system,” it stated. The GMA further urged that accountability must be pursued through established investigative procedures, not public condemnations.
On Tuesday, President John Dramani Mahama relieved Dr. Atiku of his duties pending an internal probe into the death of a patient reportedly linked to the unavailability of a ventilator in the emergency ward. The hospital, in a statement dated April 21, extended its condolences to the bereaved family and acknowledged the growing public concern over the incident.
The Association has eaffirmed its commitment to supporting reforms within Ghana’s healthcare system and warned that it is closely monitoring the developments at TTH.
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