Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, is facing a wave of public backlash following a heated confrontation with some staff and management of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) during an unannounced visit to the facility on Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The Minister is seen publicly criticizing administrators for what he described as leadership flaws and service delivery inefficiencies in videos that are widely shared on social media. The visit has since sparked intense online debate following public complaints and concerns regarding a recent patient death at the facility. On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, while appearing on NewsNight on Joy FM, Mr. Akandoh offered a rationale for his action by arguing that Dr. Adam Atiku, the hospital's chief executive officer, had provided responses that were insensitive and did not adequately convey the gravity of the situation. He stated, "I had to draw his attention that when life is lost, it is very, very important, and we must all show concern, especially when people believe it is preventable or avoidable." The Minister also expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital's overall condition and management of resources. “There were a lot of things that made me unhappy, especially the fact that the equipment my government purchased has been running for some time and is not being maintained. They were unable to repair or replace it. Yet they are expecting the government to bring money to come and maintain or replace."
Social media critics have criticized the confrontation's public nature, describing it as unprofessional and demoralizing to health workers. The Doctors Association of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) issued a press release to defend their colleague, who was at the center of the argument, amid the growing outcry. The association described the incident as a “public interrogation” and called the media’s portrayal “unfair” and damaging to the doctor’s professional integrity.
DATTH stated, "Our colleague has always carried out his responsibilities professionally and diligently." They cautioned against further vilification of health workers on the front lines, who were already struggling with limited resources, and stated that continued hostility could jeopardize industrial harmony. The Minister has since the confrontation confirmed the termination of the CEO of the TTH, Dr Adam Atiku's appointment.
He also said that a committee has been set up to look into the circumstances of a recent hospital death that has caught the public's attention.
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