Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has appealed for calm at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), asking doctors to return to work.
Following the tensions generated by his unannounced visit to the hospital on Tuesday, the Juaboso MP has stated that he had no intention to disrespect any health worker.
At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, April 24, Mr. Akandoh stated his action was triggered by a personal experience, empathy, and commitment to the health sector.
“It can happen to anybody; it happened to me. When I had an accident, the first place I was rushed to was Nyinahini District Hospital. I never imagined that I would one day be at Nyinahini District Hospital, but I was there.
“And so, today, from where I sit, I will contribute my quota to the development of this sector. I have absolutely no intention to disrespect any medical doctor or health worker; that will be the last thing I will do. But let it be said that respect is reciprocal,” he said.
Pledging commitment to effective collaboration, the minister added, “I’m prepared to work with everybody in the sector.”
A surprise visit by Mr. Akandoh to the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region erupted into a heated confrontation with staff, highlighting the facility’s ongoing challenges with non-functional basic medical equipment.
The unannounced inspection was to understand the circumstances surrounding the death of a patient, Bavug Salim, allegedly due to the lack of a functional ventilator at the hospital’s emergency unit.
However, tensions flared when the Minister discovered that several critical machines—including ventilators at the emergency unit, diagnostic and sterilization equipment, MRI scans, among others—were not operational.
A video of a heated exchange between Akandoh and Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, Head of the Accident and Emergency Department, quickly went viral on social media, sparking backlash.
The fallout from the minister’s visit has resulted in the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Adam Atiku, a decision which has been criticized, particularly by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
The GMA, while demanding an apology, also called for Dr. Atiku’s reinstatement, although Dr. Bawah Abdulai has been named as his successor.
In protest, the Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) has indefinitely suspended emergency and outpatient services, leaving several patients stranded.
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