The Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II, has taken decisive action in response to the ongoing strike by doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). On April 25, 2025, the Yaa Naa dispatched a high-level delegation led by Zangbalun Naa Dr. Yakubu II, the Chief of the Zangbalun Traditional Area, to engage with both the hospital’s management and the Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH). This intervention aims to mediate and resolve the issues that have led to the strike, which has left the hospital’s operations severely impacted.
The doctors at TTH, who suspended emergency and outpatient services on April 24, 2025, have cited “unwarranted attacks” from Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini as the primary reason for their industrial action. The decision to strike came after an incident during the minister's visit to the hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit on April 22. The doctors, upset by the encounter, held an emergency general assembly meeting and voted to suspend services indefinitely. The strike has significantly affected patients and their families, leaving many stranded and unable to access essential medical services.
In his address through the delegation, Yaa Naa Abukari II acknowledged the dedication of the doctors but urged them to resume critical services, particularly emergency, walk-in, and specialist care, to prevent further harm to patients. He emphasised the importance of dialogue and pledged to facilitate a meeting between the doctors and the Ministry of Health in an effort to resolve the grievances. The Yaa Naa expressed his commitment to acting as a neutral mediator, ensuring that the concerns of the doctors would be relayed to the minister for prompt attention.
The Yaa Naa’s intervention was met with optimism by the hospital's management. Dr. Salifu Alhassan Tiah, the Director of Pharmacy at TTH, who spoke on behalf of the Acting CEO of the hospital, expressed hope that the mediation would lead to a swift resolution. He appealed to his colleagues to show respect to the delegation, acknowledging the significance of the Yaa Naa's presence in the matter. Dr. Tiah called for calm and urged the doctors to take the words of the delegation to heart, stressing that the issue was now in the hands of the Dagbon Overlord and his representatives.
As the doctors' strike enters its second day, there is growing concern about the long-term impact on healthcare delivery at Tamale Teaching Hospital. The hospital, which serves as a critical healthcare facility for the Northern Region, has seen a decline in its ability to provide essential services, and the ongoing strike has raised alarms within the community. The intervention by the Yaa Naa is seen as a crucial step towards resolving the crisis and restoring normalcy to the hospital.
While the strike has caused significant disruption, the focus is now on how the authorities will respond to the Yaa Naa's call for dialogue and whether the doctors will heed the appeal to resume at least emergency services. The coming days will be pivotal in determining the outcome of this standoff and the future of healthcare services at Tamale Teaching Hospital.
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