The dismissal of Dr. Adam Atiku, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has ignited a significant controversy involving accusations of administrative and constitutional breaches, public confrontations, and concerns over the state of healthcare delivery at the facility. The events unfolded rapidly, beginning with a patient's death amid allegations of medical negligence, followed by the Minister's unannounced visit to the hospital.

Reports indicate that the Minister's visit on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, was prompted by public complaints regarding a recent patient death at the hospital. During the visit, Minister Akandoh engaged in a heated exchange with hospital staff, including Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, a Senior Physician Specialist in Internal Medicine, expressing his dissatisfaction with the hospital's condition and the management of resources. A widely circulated video captured the Minister accusing staff of misconduct and negligence. The Minister openly rebuked administrators over what he described as lapses in leadership and inefficiencies in service delivery. He also confronted Dr. Adam Atiku about the hospital's undesirable condition, which reportedly contributed to the patient's death. Akandoh stated that some responses offered by the hospital’s CEO, Dr Adam Atiku, were insensitive and failed to convey the gravity of the situation. Following this confrontation, the Minister confirmed the immediate dismissal of Dr. Atiku, stating that the “appointing authority” (referring to himself) “owes nobody any explanation”.

The Minority Health Caucus in Parliament has strongly condemned Minister Akandoh's actions, citing administrative and constitutional breaches. They questioned the Minister's authority to dismiss the CEO without due process and emphasized that this matter raises serious constitutional, administrative, and governance concerns. The Caucus pointed out that Section 37(1)(e) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 1009), stipulates that the CEO is a member of the Hospital’s Governing Board and that the law does not grant the Minister unilateral power to dismiss the CEO. They further noted that Section 34(7) of the parent Act 525 requires the President, in consultation with the Council of State, to remove a member of a Teaching Hospital Board, including the CEO. The Minority also highlighted that Sections 42(2)(d) and 46 of the Act mandate that disciplinary matters be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for investigation before any action is taken. They stated that there was no indication that this procedure was followed in Dr. Atiku's dismissal, rendering it procedurally and substantively unfair.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has also voiced strong criticism of the Minister's actions, accusing him of exceeding his remit and acting unjustly. In a statement released on Wednesday, April 22, 2025, the GMA expressed concern about an “ill-informed media audit” into the patient's death, warning that it breached patient confidentiality and could expose the facility to legal risks. The GMA noted that the head of the Emergency Unit had received threats and was facing cyberbullying, raising concerns about the safety and mental well-being of staff. The Association demanded an apology from the Minister of Health and the Tamale North MP for what it described as an unwarranted attack on medical staff. Dr. Frank Serebour, President of the GMA, emphasized that blaming individual doctors is not the solution to broader challenges and that health professionals are working under difficult conditions, often using their own resources to care for patients.

Social media reactions have been varied, with some users condemning the public nature of the confrontation and describing it as unprofessional and demoralizing to health workers. Critics have argued that confrontations do not solve problems and that providing hospitals with needed resources and funding is essential. The Doctors Association of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) issued a press release defending their colleague, describing the incident as a “public interrogation” and calling the media’s portrayal “unfair” and damaging to the doctor’s professional integrity.

In response to the situation, the Minister has disclosed the establishment of a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the patient's death that triggered the public outcry. However, the Minority Health Caucus has called for an immediate reversal of Dr. Atiku's dismissal, stating that the action is unlawful, void, and of no effect. They have also called on the Minister to formally apologize to Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa and the staff of the Tamale Teaching Hospital for the unprofessional manner in which the visit and subsequent discussions were conducted.