The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has found himself at the center of a heated controversy after summarily dismissing the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adam Atiku.
This action, according to the Minority Health Caucasus in Parliament was carried out without recourse to due process.
According to them, the decision raises serious constitutional, administrative, and governance concerns.
The Minority Health Caucus in a press release on Wednesday April 23, 2025 has expressed deep concern over the Minister’s decision, citing violations of the governing legal framework for the administration of Teaching Hospitals in Ghana.
“According to the law, the CEO of a teaching hospital can only be removed by the President in consultation with the Council of State, not unilaterally by the Minister”.The release said.
“Furthermore, disciplinary matters must be referred to the Disciplinary Committee, which was not done in this case”.
The Minority Caucus in there release sihend by a Ranking Member of ParliamentHealth Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie argues that the Minister’s actions were not only unlawful but also emotionally charged and rash.
The events leading to the dismissal were triggered by a surprise inspection of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where the Minister was confronted with the facility’s deplorable state of equipment and infrastructure.
In a heated confrontation with staff members, the Minister publicly berated a medical officer, Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, over the circumstances surrounding the recent death of a patient.
This conduct was deemed demeaning, inappropriate, and a breach of professional decorum.
The Minister’s actions have sent a chilling message to medical professionals across the country, suggesting a climate where frontline health workers can be publicly humiliated without cause.
The Minority Caucus has called for the immediate reversal of the decision to remove Dr. Atiku from office, citing that the action is unlawful, void, and of no effect.
Moreover, the Minority Caucus has demanded that the Minister formally apologize to Dr. Akwulpwa and the staff of the Tamale Teaching Hospital for the unprofessional manner in which the visit and subsequent discussions were conducted.
This demand the caucus noted is rooted in the principles of natural justice, which require that individuals be granted a fair hearing and procedural propriety before administrative actions are taken against them.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng
