This decision follows an emergency meeting held on April 23, 2025, in response to longstanding operational challenges and a recent altercation involving the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and a senior doctor at the facility.
In a statement released Tuesday night, the association announced that its members would no longer provide services at the general outpatient departments (OPD), antenatal clinics, specialist clinics, and paediatric OPD.However, DATTH assured the public that inpatient care would continue until all admitted patients are safely discharged.
The doctors are also demanding an immediate and unconditional apology from the Minister of Health and the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini. The demand stems from an alleged confrontation with Dr Valentine Akwulpwa, Head of the Accident and Emergency Department, during the Minister’s visit on Tuesday.
According to the association, the apologies must be directed not only to Dr Akwulpwa but also to all doctors and staff of the Accident and Emergency Department.Conditions for resumptionDATTH has outlined both short-term and medium-term conditions that must be met before the resumption of full services.Immediate conditions include the continuous flow of water and stable electricity supply, uninterrupted provision of oxygen, adequate supply of consumables such as gloves, gauze, masks, syringes, and disinfectants, and reliable availability of laboratory reagents.
The association is also calling for the installation of 100 continuous vital signs monitors in the high-dependency unit, the provision of 14 ventilators across the ICU, paediatric, neonatal, and maternal units, two transport ventilators, two transport incubators, and the repair of 1,000-litre autoclave machines at the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD).In the medium term, the doctors are requesting the procurement of critical medical equipment, including a non-helium MRI machine, CT scan with infusion pump, mammography, fluoroscopy, C-arm machines, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysers for all ICUs and the emergency department, and two mobile X-ray machines.
The association has warned that failure to meet these demands in the shortest possible time could result in further industrial action.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr Abukari Bawah Abdulai as the new Chief Executive Officer of Tamale Teaching Hospital.This follows the dismissal of the previous CEO, Dr Atiku Adam, on Tuesday amid allegations of mismanagement and medical negligence that reportedly resulted in the death of a patient.
During the visit, Mr Akandoh expressed dissatisfaction with the deteriorating quality of healthcare at the hospital, noting the presence of broken-down medical equipment, unsanitary washrooms, and general infrastructure decay.According to the minister, some equipment had been non-functional for up to six years, forcing patients to rely on costly private services for essential diagnostics and treatments.Mr Akandoh chastised the management and described the situation as “unacceptable and disgraceful,” particularly for a premier referral facility serving the entire Northern Ghana and beyond.
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