The Minority Caucus of the Health Committee in Parliament has strongly condemned what it describes as the unlawful and emotionally charged dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adam Atiku, by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
The Minority is calling for the immediate reversal of the Minister’s decision, citing breaches of law, due process, and professional ethics.
Background and Context
Dr. Adam Atiku has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, a major referral centre serving Northern Ghana.
His abrupt removal from office follows a high-profile visit by the Minister for Health to the facility, which was reportedly triggered by the recent death of a patient due to the unavailability of a ventilator.
During the unannounced inspection, Akandoh reportedly found several critical pieces of equipment—including ventilators, MRI scanners, and sterilisation machines—in a state of disrepair.
The inspection led to a public confrontation between the Minister and staff of the hospital, including a direct confrontation with Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, a respected neurologist and one of the very few specialists of his kind in Northern Ghana.
Minority’s Objections to Minister’s Actions
In a formal statement issued on Wednesday, the Minority Health Caucus described the Minister’s actions as “authoritarian,” “unlawful,” and “emotionally driven.”
The Minority expressed concern that the CEO’s removal was carried out without adherence to the procedures stipulated in Ghana’s health governance laws.
According to Section 37(1)(e) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 1009), the CEO of a teaching hospital also serves as a member of the hospital’s Governing Board.
The removal of such an official, as per Section 34(7) of Act 525, requires a decision by the President in consultation with the Council of State—not unilateral action by a Minister.
Furthermore, the Minority referenced Sections 42(2)(d) and 46 of the Act, which require that disciplinary concerns be investigated by a Disciplinary Committee and presented to the Board.
No evidence has been provided that this protocol was followed in Dr. Atiku’s case.
Public Confrontation and Professional Disrespect
The Minority also took issue with the manner in which Akandoh handled his interaction with hospital staff during his visit.
In particular, they decried the public berating of Dr. Akwulpwa, who was questioned in front of the media and hospital patients regarding the circumstances of the patient’s death.
“This conduct was not only disrespectful to Dr. Akwulpwa, but profoundly inconsiderate to the family of the deceased,” the statement read.
It emphasized that issues of medical mortality should be handled with discretion and professionalism, not turned into “political spectacles.”
Call for Institutional Solidarity and Redress
The Minority is urging professional bodies such as the Ghana Medical Association, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, and the Health Services Workers Union to speak out in defence of institutional integrity and due process.
The Caucus also made a broader appeal to civil society organisations to hold public officials accountable and defend constitutionalism and the independence of public service institutions.
The Minority affirmed their intent to pursue all legal and parliamentary avenues to address what they deem a grave abuse of office by the Minister for Health.
Brewing Crisis
This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of Ghana’s healthcare system, which continues to struggle with underfunding, equipment shortages, and strained human resources—issues that have become flashpoints in the ongoing debate over healthcare reform and governance in the country.
The incident may signal deeper tensions between political oversight and professional autonomy in Ghana’s public health institutions, raising concerns about the morale and protection of frontline healthcare workers in challenging environments.
