Reinstate dismissed TTH CEO immediately – Minority to Health Minister
Reinstate dismissed TTH CEO immediately – Minority to Health Minister
The Minority Caucus members on Parliament’s Health Committee is calling on the Health Minister, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to reinstate the dismissed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr. Adam Atiku immediately.
The Minority Caucus members on Committee on Health condemned the dismissal of Dr. Atiku, describing the Health Minister’s action as unlawful, emotionally charged, and a serious violation of administrative and constitutional procedure.
The call for reinstatement contained in a strongly worded press release, said the summary dismissal by the Health Minister, was carried out without due process, violating multiple provisions of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act.
According to the Minority, the Health Minister acted “authoritarian” by claiming the “appointing authority owes nobody any explanation,” in what they described as a blatant disregard for accountability and the rule of law.
“The law does not confer unilateral power on the Minister of Health to dismiss the CEO of a teaching hospital, let alone in the manner and under the circumstances now in issue,” a portion of the statement read.
Citing Sections 34(7) and 37(1)(e) of Acts 525 and 1009 respectively, the Minority said the CEO is both a member and administrator of the hospital’s governing board, and any removal requires presidential approval in consultation with the Council of State, but not a unilateral ministerial directive.
The group further backed their call for reinstatement with an absence of a disciplinary committee process, as required under Sections 42 and 46 of the law, thus describing the minister’s action as procedurally and substantively flawed.
They further criticised the Minister’s public conduct during an unannounced inspection at the hospital, where he confronted a respected neurologist, Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, over the recent death of a patient.
The Minority described the confrontation as “demeaning,” “unprofessional,” and “a collective affront” to the dignity of medical practitioners.
“Matters of mortality and clinical accountability must be handled with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality. The Minister’s public outburst was inappropriate and a breach of the decorum that must govern professional interactions in healthcare,” it said.
The Minority called for Dr. Atiku’s immediate reinstatement, a formal apology to Dr. Akwulpwa and the hospital staff, and urged health professional bodies and civil society organisations to resist what it described as ministerial overreach and threats to institutional integrity.
It, however, vowed to pursue all legal and parliamentary avenues to ensure accountability in the matter.
