Medical services at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have fully resumed following a turbulent week marked by a doctors’ strike that paralyzed operations at the facility.
The indefinite industrial action, which began on April 23, 2025, was triggered by a confrontation between Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, Head of the Accident and Emergency Unit, during an unscheduled visit. Citing “unwarranted attacks” on their colleague, doctors suspended all emergency and outpatient services in protest, demanding formal apologies before returning to work.
Initial attempts to resolve the standoff included an intervention by a high-level delegation from the palace of the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II. This effort saw only a partial reopening of the Accident and Emergency Unit.
However, following a crucial meeting with the Health Minister on Friday, April 25, the doctors’ leadership announced a full suspension of the strike. In an official statement, the Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) instructed all members to return to duty immediately.
“The DATTH calls off the suspension of services and calls on all doctors to resume all services with immediate effect at Tamale Teaching Hospital,” the statement said.
The restoration of services has brought relief to thousands of patients who had been left stranded by the industrial action.
Despite the eturn to normalcy, sources say discussions are still ongoing behind the scenes to ensure such tensions between government officials and health professionals do not reoccur.
