Minority Caucus slams health minister over ‘unlawful’ dismissal of Tamale Teaching Hospital CEO
The Minority Health Caucus in Parliament has strongly criticized the recent dismissal of Dr. Adam Atiku, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, by the newly appointed Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
The Caucus described the action as unconstitutional, procedurally flawed, and a threat to democratic governance.
According to a statement issued by the Minority on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Minister’s dismissal of Dr. Atiku was not only abrupt but also lacked adherence to the legal and administrative processes outlined in Ghana’s health laws.
They expressed grave concern that the decision was made without reference to due process and appeared to be based on unilateral authority, a move they deemed authoritarian and contrary to the rule of law.
The Health Minister, who has publicly confirmed the dismissal, reportedly stated that the decision was not entirely linked to the recent death of a patient at the hospital, but rather an exercise of executive authority that “owes nobody any explanation.”
The Minority Caucus denounced this stance, saying it undermines principles of accountability and administrative justice.
The group cited Section 37(1)(e) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 1009), which designates the CEO of a teaching hospital as the Chief Administrator and a member of the hospital’s Governing Board.
They emphasized that the law does not empower the Minister to dismiss the CEO unilaterally.
They further pointed to Section 34(7) of the parent Act 525, which stipulates that the removal of a member of a Teaching Hospital Board — including the CEO — must be executed by the President in consultation with the Council of State.
According to the Minority, this legal safeguard was disregarded in the current case.
Additionally, the Caucus noted that disciplinary matters at teaching hospitals are legally required to go through the hospital’s Disciplinary Committee, which must investigate and submit a report to the Board before any further action is taken. There is no indication, they said, that this process was followed.
The Minority added that Dr. Atiku’s dismissal lacked both procedural and substantive fairness, and called on the government to respect statutory processes in public administration, particularly in institutions as critical as teaching hospitals.
Read full statement below:
