President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr. Abubakar Bawah Abdulai of the University for Development Studies (UDS) as the new CEO of Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), following the abrupt dismissal of Dr. Adam Atiku. The move, which comes in the wake of a patient’s death due to equipment failure, has ignited sharp criticism from the medical community.
Dr. Atiku was relieved of his duties on Tuesday, April 22, just a day after Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh made an impromptu visit to TTH in response to the death of Bavug Salim, a patient who reportedly died because there was no working ventilator in the hospital’s emergency unit.
Footage of the Minister’s confrontation with the hospital’s Head of Accident and Emergency, Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, has since gone viral, further fanning the flames of public and professional outcry.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has condemned Dr. Atiku’s dismissal, labeling it as a breach of due process and an overreach of executive authority. In a statement issued on April 23, the GMA demanded a formal apology from both Minister Akandoh and Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini for their conduct during the hospital visit.
While Dr. Bawah Abdulai’s appointment is being positioned by the government as a strategic leadership shift, it arrives under a cloud of controversy and strained relations between health professionals and political leaders. With tensions high, many in the sector are calling for improved dialogue and respect for institutional procedures.
