The decision by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to remove CEO of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Atik Adam, has sparked strong criticism from the Minority Health Caucus in Parliament, which has condemned the action as unlawful and unconstitutional.

On Wednesday, April 23, the NPP Members of Parliament issued a statement demanding the "immediate reversal" of Dr. Adam's dismissal, describing the minister's move as “unlawful, void, and of no effect.” The caucus argues that the dismissal process did not follow the required legal and procedural steps, emphasizing that the minister's actions violated constitutional, administrative, and governance principles. “This attitude is not only authoritarian but diametrically opposed to the principles of administrative justice, accountability, and the rule of law,” the statement asserts.

The Minority referenced specific sections of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 1009), particularly sections 34, 37, and 42, which they claim do not grant the minister the authority to dismiss the CEO of a teaching hospital in the current circumstances.

The caucus also called on health associations and workers' unions to mobilize and demand Dr. Adam's reinstatement.

Details of the Incident

Minister Akandoh’s visit to Tamale Teaching Hospital on Tuesday was part of his investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bavug Salim, a patient who had been referred to the hospital weeks earlier. Salim, found unconscious in the Emergency Ward’s red zone, was allegedly left unattended for hours, a situation the minister believes contributed to the patient’s death.

While Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, a medical officer at the hospital, tried to clarify the situation during the minister’s visit, Akandoh expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation and the overall management of the hospital. This led to Dr. Adam’s dismissal.

In response, the minister has set up a three-member committee to investigate the death. The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

Find the Minority Health Caucus’ full statement below:

MinorityyDownload