The Minority Health Caucus in Parliament has condemned the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for dismissing the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr Adam Atiku, on the grounds of alleged mismanagement and medical negligence that resulted in the death of a patient at the hospital.

The NPP MPs are demanding “the immediate reversal of the decision to remove Dr Adam Atiku from office”.

They strongly maintain that the minister’s action is “unlawful, void, and of no effect”.

This was contained in a press release on Wednesday, April 23, in response to the minister’s decision.

According to the group, the minister failed to follow due process, violating key constitutional, administrative, and governance procedures.

“This attitude is not only authoritarian but diametrically opposed to the principles of administrative justice, accountability, and the rule of law,” they stated.

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.