Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has called for calm at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and urged doctors to return to work following tensions sparked by his surprise visit.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, Mr. Akandoh explained that his visit was driven by personal experience and a deep commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
“It can happen to anybody—it happened to me. When I had an accident, the first place I was rushed to was Nyinahini District Hospital. I never imagined I would ever need that facility, but I did,” he recounted.
“My goal is to contribute to the development of the health sector, not to disrespect any medical professionals. I believe respect should be mutual,” he emphasized, pledging to foster collaboration with healthcare workers.
The Minister’s unannounced visit to the Tamale Teaching Hospital triggered a confrontation with staff and exposed serious operational challenges, including several broken critical machines such as ventilators and MRI scanners.
His visit was reportedly linked to the investigation of a patient’s death, allegedly due to a non-functional ventilator. The fallout from the visit led to the dismissal of Dr. Adam Atiku, a move that has drawn strong criticism from the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
The GMA has since demanded Dr. Atiku’s reinstatement and an official apology. In protest, the association has suspended emergency and outpatient services at the hospital.
