The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has confirmed the immediate dismissal of Dr. Adam Atiku, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
During an appearance on Joy FM’s NewsNight on April 22, the Minister announced that a formal letter communicating Dr. Atiku’s termination had been issued. “We have thanked him for the services he rendered at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. We believe it is time for someone else to continue as CEO. He has been sacked with immediate effect,” Mr. Akandoh stated.
When asked whether Dr. Atiku had accepted the dismissal or planned to challenge it, the Minister replied, “I don’t know yet.” He clarified that the decision to relieve Dr. Atiku of his position was not solely due to a recent incident but that the appointing authority is not obligated to explain hiring or firing decisions.
Additionally, Mr. Akandoh revealed that a committee has been established to investigate the circumstances surrounding a recent death at the hospital that has garnered public attention. This follows the Minister’s visit to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on Tuesday morning to assess the facility and understand the situation.
During his tour of the emergency unit, the Minister noted that some of Dr. Atiku’s comments regarding the incident were insensitive, highlighting a troubling lack of understanding of the seriousness of the matter. He emphasized the importance of empathy in healthcare, particularly in cases of avoidable or preventable deaths.
Mr. Akandoh also expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital’s overall condition and resource management, stating, “There were a lot of things that I was not happy about, especially when equipment bought by my government has been run for some time and is being left unattended. They couldn’t maintain, they couldn’t replace. Yet they are expecting the government to bring money to maintain or replace it.”
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