The Minority Health Caucus in Parliament has condemned Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh for dismissing Dr. Adam Atiku, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The dismissal was based on allegations of mismanagement and medical negligence related to a patient’s death at the hospital. Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are calling for the immediate reversal of this decision, asserting that the minister’s action is “unlawful, void, and of no effect.”
This condemnation was expressed in a press release issued on Wednesday, April 23, in response to the minister’s decision. The caucus argues that the minister failed to adhere to due process, violating essential constitutional, administrative, and governance procedures. They stated, “This attitude is not only authoritarian but also directly opposed to the principles of administrative justice, accountability, and the rule of law.”
Citing sections 34, 37, and 42 of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 1009), they argued that the law does not confer unilateral power on the minister to dismiss the CEO of a teaching hospital under the present circumstances. They further called on health associations and workers’ unions to rise and demand the reinstatement of the hospital CEO.
Background
The minister visited the Tamale Teaching Hospital on Tuesday morning to familiarise himself with the facility and to understand an incident that transpired on Sunday. The visit was to assess the current state of the facility and to obtain first-hand information regarding alleged medical negligence that resulted in the death of a patient who had been referred to the hospital a few weeks prior.
The deceased, Bavug Salim, was rushed to the red zone of the Emergency Ward in an unconscious state but was allegedly left unattended for several hours for unexplained reasons, resulting in his death. During the visit, a medical officer, Dr Valentine Akwulpwa, attempted to explain the circumstances leading to the death, but the minister found the explanation unsatisfactory.
The minister also expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital’s overall condition and the management of resources, which led to the dismissal of the CEO. Meanwhile, the minister has set up a three-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the patient’s death. The committee is expected to present its report within two weeks.
Below is the full statement from the Minority.
By: David Apinga
