|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Minority Health Caucus in Parliament has fiercely criticized the removal of Dr. Adam Atiku as Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), describing the action as illegal, emotionally driven, and a serious violation of administrative and constitutional procedures.
Dr. Atiku’s dismissal, which took effect on Tuesday, April 23, 2025, was confirmed by President John Dramani Mahama after reports emerged alleging negligence on the part of the TTH leadership.
However, in a strongly-worded statement, the Minority Caucus denounced the manner in which the dismissal was handled—particularly by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who publicly announced the decision during a recent visit to the hospital. According to the Caucus, this action disregarded due process and violated critical provisions of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act.
“The law does not grant the Health Minister unilateral powers to dismiss a teaching hospital CEO, especially in the manner and under the circumstances in question,” the Caucus emphasized.
They further condemned the Minister’s alleged claim that “the appointing authority owes nobody any explanation,” describing it as “a flagrant violation of accountability and the rule of law.”
Quoting Sections 34(7) and 37(1)(e) of Acts 525 and 1009, the Minority stressed that a teaching hospital CEO is not only the administrative head of the facility but also a key member of its governing board. As such, their removal must be approved by the President in consultation with the Council of State—not through a ministerial declaration.
Moreover, the Caucus pointed out that the appropriate disciplinary processes had not been followed. They cited Sections 42 and 46 of the same legislation, which mandate the establishment of a disciplinary committee before any such action can be taken. In their view, this procedural lapse renders the dismissal “both procedurally and substantively defective.”
Calling for adherence to the rule of law, the Minority urged the government to reverse what they described as an authoritarian and unjustifiable act and to respect the institutional processes laid out by Ghana’s legal framework.
Email Daily Mail GH: stories@dailymailgh.com or
Whatsapp: +233(0)509928122
