President John Dramani Mahama has terminated the appointment of Dr. Adam Atiku, Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), in the wake of mounting public outrage over alleged medical negligence and deteriorating healthcare delivery at the facility.
The dismissal follows a dramatic visit to the hospital by Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who confronted staff in a tense on-site interaction after the widely reported death of a patient at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.
The visit, which was unannounced, took place on Tuesday, April 22, and was prompted by an outpouring of criticism on social media.
Flashpoint in a Deepening Healthcare Crisis
The incident that triggered the chain of events involved a critically ill patient who had been referred to TTH from another health facility.
According to a preliminary statement from hospital management, the patient required a specialized procedure that TTH could not offer at the time. Compounding the problem, all four Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds — the only ones available in the entire Northern Region — were fully occupied.
These factors, they noted, may have contributed to the patient’s death.
This tragic event served as a catalyst for a public reckoning over the state of healthcare delivery in the north, particularly at TTH, the region’s only major referral center.
The hospital has long faced challenges with infrastructure, equipment shortages, and an overstretched workforce.
The Minister’s Confrontation
Minister Akandoh’s unannounced arrival at TTH quickly became a spectacle.
Accompanied by Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini, the Minister was seen in a widely shared livestream video angrily demanding answers from staff in the hospital courtyard. Hospital workers appeared visibly uncomfortable and offered brief responses to the Minister’s stern inquiries.
Mounting Concerns Over Dysfunctional Equipment
During the visit, Minister Akandoh also raised alarms about the number of non-functional medical equipment at the hospital, noting that despite payments to suppliers, critical machines remain idle.
He suggested that equipment installation and operational readiness have been neglected, aggravating the already dire conditions.
“There are issues of equipment that have been supplied to the hospital that are not working at all… You cannot supply equipment without installing it, and yet you have been paid,” the Minister lamented.
He stressed the need for immediate presidential attention to the broader water crisis affecting Tamale, which has further hampered hospital operations.
“This water situation is beyond TTH. Tamale is facing a major water crisis, and it’s a matter I intend to escalate to the President,” Akandoh noted.
Mahama Steps In
President Mahama’s decision to sack Dr. Atiku was reportedly informed by the culmination of operational failures at TTH, the recent death of the patient, and the national outrage following the Minister’s confrontation with staff.
The presidency has not yet named a successor but emphasized the need for urgent reform and a renewed commitment to improving healthcare services in the north.
Hospital’s Response and Ongoing Probe
Amid the public firestorm, TTH management issued a statement confirming an internal investigation into the incident.
They urged the public to withhold judgment until the facts were established and reaffirmed their commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.
“We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and assure the public that we are taking all necessary steps to prevent such tragedies in the future,” the hospital stated.
–BY Daniel Bampoe
