The Minority Caucus in Parliament has strongly condemned the dismissal of Dr. Adam Atiku, Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, by the newly appointed Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, describing the move as unlawful, emotionally charged, and a breach of administrative justice.
In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, the Minority accused the Health Minister of acting unilaterally and without recourse to due process, a move they say undermines constitutional and statutory procedures governing the appointment and removal of heads of teaching hospitals.
According to the statement, the Minister admitted that the dismissal was not solely tied to the recent death of a patient at the hospital, but rather exercised under the assertion that “the appointing authority owes nobody any explanation.”
“This authoritarian approach is a direct affront to the principles of accountability and the rule of law,” the statement read.
Citing provisions of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 1009), the Minority noted that the removal of a CEO of a teaching hospital must be done by the President in consultation with the Council of State, not by a minister acting alone.
They also argued that no disciplinary procedures, such as those required by Sections 42(2)(d) and 46 of the Act, were followed.
The statement also criticized the Minister’s conduct during an unannounced visit to the hospital, where he reportedly engaged in a heated public confrontation with hospital staff, including renowned neurologist Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa. The altercation occurred over non-functional critical equipment and the recent death of a patient allegedly due to the lack of a working ventilator.
The Minority condemned the public rebuke of Dr. Akwulpwa, describing it as unprofessional, disrespectful, and demoralizing to medical professionals working under strained conditions.
“This was not just an affront to Dr. Akwulpwa, but a blow to the entire medical fraternity in the Northern and Upper Regions,” the statement asserted, warning that such actions could deter professionals from serving in under-resourced areas.
The Minority is calling for an immediate reversal of Dr. Atiku’s dismissal, a formal apology to Dr. Akwulpwa and staff, and for the Ghana Medical Association and other health sector bodies to defend due process and professional integrity.
They concluded with a vow to pursue all legal and parliamentary avenues to challenge what they termed an arbitrary and unconstitutional action, affirming their commitment to uphold the rule of law and protect the independence of public institutions.
The statement was signed by Ranking Member Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie and supported by fellow health committee members Dr. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Frank Yeboah, and Alexandre Akwasi Acquah.
bellow is the statement :
Source: www.kumasimail.com
