Tamale Hospital saga: How a death, chaos and minister’s outburst led to CEO’s sack

The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has confirmed the immediate dismissal of Dr Adam Atiku, Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).

The decision follows allegations of negligence by hospital staff, which reportedly resulted in the tragic death of a patient at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Ward.

The move has since sparked mixed public reactions — with some supporting the dismissal and others strongly criticising it.

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If you missed the events surrounding this saga, here are the chronological details, including the patient’s death, the Minister’s surprise visit, an altercation with a staff member, and the CEO’s dismissal.

Patient’s Death and Hospital’s Response

Outrage spread across social media following the death of a patient at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, amid allegations of medical negligence at the Accident and Emergency Ward.

In a statement dated Sunday, 20th April, the management of TTH confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

According to the statement, preliminary findings indicate that the patient, referred from another facility, required a specialised medical procedure not yet available at the hospital.

It also noted that all four Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds — which serve the entirety of Northern Ghana — were fully occupied at the time of the patient’s arrival.

Minister’s Surprise Visit and Altercation with Staff

In response to the incident, the Minister for Health paid an unannounced visit to the hospital on Tuesday, 22nd April, as part of a broader effort to assess the challenges facing healthcare delivery in the Northern Region.

Speaking during the visit, Mr Akandoh expressed grave concern over the number of idle medical machines, despite payments having been made to suppliers.

During the visit, however, he was involved in a heated exchange with hospital staff.

In a widely circulated video, Mr Akandoh is seen questioning a hospital staff member, identified as Dr Valentine Akwulpwa, a Senior Physician Specialist in Internal Medicine, who was explaining the hospital’s version of events.

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The visibly upset Minister is heard accusing staff of misconduct and negligence, while onlookers attempt to defuse the situation.

Social Media Reactions

The incident has since sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with users expressing varied opinions.

These unannounced hospital visits make for good optics, but the truth is, the issues they “discover” are already sitting in reports on their desks. If you’re not fixing what you find, then you’re just performing. Gimmicks don’t build systems, action does. https://t.co/XgkTiq9BIb

— Bening Jnr. (@kobbykanye) April 23, 2025

I respectfully disagree with honourable minister on this one.

This shouldn't have been done on camera in the 1st place.

Dr Should be allowed to explain precisely what the situation is, and he was not bring disrespectful

And Finally, the vents should be bought. That's solution https://t.co/Cn5eVqBA3N

— De@dshot (@theGeraldAnane) April 23, 2025

So a whole minister walks into a hospital with a camera crew, gets calmly told the truth, “we don’t have enough ventilators and suddenly it’s “how dare you talk to me like that”? Coz you wanted him to sugarcoat the failure of the system you’re supposed to be fixing and he didn’t? https://t.co/tH6H7rzJkY

— Sy (@amesiamina) April 22, 2025

It wouldn’t sit right with me to stay silent at a time like this ;especially after the unfortunate remarks made by the ministers toward my senior colleague and teacher, Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, and how quickly the public turned against him. It’s truly disheartening and… pic.twitter.com/PDi3UUSvZp

— HAKEEM (@keembobo) April 23, 2025

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