Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital have issued a stark warning of potential disruption to medical services following the dismissal of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.
In a strongly worded statement, the Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) declared their full support for their colleague Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa at the center of a public confrontation with the Minister of Health.
“We stand in strong solidarity with our colleague and will resist any action to hamper his ability to discharge his duties”
DATTH
Following the Health Minister’s dismissal of Mr. Atiku Adam, CEO of the hospital, the DATTH signaled a readiness to take steps that “may not guarantee industrial harmony,” if things continued to progress on this tangent towards Dr. Akwulpwa.
The tension stems from an incident that occurred during a visit by the Minister of Health, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.
According to the DATTH, a discussion between the Minister and the department head Dr. Akwulpwa regarding the management of a referred patient escalated into a verbal exchange.
The DATTH emphasized that the doctor involved in the confrontation has consistently shown “professionalism” and dedication to patient care.
They expressed dismay at how the incident has been portrayed publicly, arguing that media coverage has severely damaged the reputation of a highly committed health worker.
“Our colleague has worked tirelessly to support patient care at the Accident and Emergency and has always discharged his duties diligently”
DATTH
They insisted that the situation has been misrepresented by the media and further compounded by social media narratives that lacked context and accuracy. The group called on the public and media outlets to act responsibly and refrain from sharing unverified or misleading information.
Minister and Media Criticized
In their statement, the DATTH criticized the public nature of the exchange, suggesting that it was inappropriate and unfair to their member.
“We find this to be very unfortunate and an affront to all our members,” they said, condemning what they described as the wrongful vilification of the hospital’s doctors and demanded more responsible reportage.
The doctors reiterated that the only fault of their colleague was his attempt to outline existing problems at the facility. According to the statement, his effort to communicate the dire challenges in the management of a referred patient was met with confrontation rather than support.
While calling for calm as the committee of enquiry investigates the incident, the doctors made it clear that their patience was wearing thin.
The DATTH expressed serious concern that health professionals are being unfairly blamed for systemic failures and warned that if the current trajectory continues, they will be compelled to reconsider their cooperation.
Upon insisting that any action that threatens the livelihood of Dr. Akwulpwa will be met with full resistance, the DATTH made a bold statement borne out of careful examination during the Health Minister’s visit.
“We wish to state unequivocally that if the current trend where basic requirements for health care are unavailable, only for health personnel to be vilified for poor outcomes, we will advise ourselves”
DATTH
The group revealed that an emergency meeting of all doctors at the hospital has been scheduled to “evaluate their options.” Although they did not detail what form any potential industrial action might take, the language of the statement suggests that drastic measures were not off the table.
Responsible Leadership and Respect
The statement also appealed to the leadership of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the hospital’s management, and the media to remain guided by “fairness, professionalism, and respect for due process.“
The doctors said their primary focus remains the delivery of quality healthcare, but added that this cannot be achieved under conditions that undermine their work or threaten their professional integrity.
As the new administration continues to grapple with the demands of health sector reform, the unfolding events at Tamale Teaching Hospital have thrown a spotlight on systemic weaknesses and rising tensions between frontline staff and political leadership.
The DATTH concluded by reaffirming their solidarity with their embattled colleague and their determination to protect the integrity and morale of medical personnel at the facility.
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