Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has clarified that the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr. Adam Atiku, is unrelated to a widely circulated altercation involving hospital staff and the Health Minister.
His clarification comes amid public speculation linking Dr. Atiku’s dismissal to a viral video showing a tense exchange between a hospital staff and Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh during an unannounced visit to the facility on Tuesday, April 22.
Setting the record straight, Mr. Suhuyini stated on the Citi Eyewitnes News that; “The dismissal of the CEO has nothing to do with the 31-year-old Salman. A three-member committee has been set up to look into that matter. The CEO of the hospital is not the gentleman who was seen in the video having exchanges with the Minister.
“The gentleman seen in the video, we were told, is a dedicated worker in the hospital, but he was simply cautioned by me and the Minister not to suggest the recent death of Salim was being blown out of proportion because we thought that was insensitive,” he said.
Suhuyini emphasised that the government’s decision to remove Dr. Atiku is part of a broader effort to reform and reposition the Tamale Teaching Hospital in response to widespread calls for improved healthcare delivery in the Northern Region.
“The action by the government is just part of the government’s agenda to reset the hospital and to respond to the calls of the people to fix the Tamale Teaching Hospital.”
President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to relieve Dr. Atiku of his duties followed reports of alleged negligence leading to the death of a patient at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Ward. The case sparked public outcry due to persistent complaints about poor healthcare services and non-functional medical equipment at the facility.
However, the move has drawn criticism from the Minority Caucus in Parliament, which described the dismissal as illegal, emotionally driven, and a violation of administrative protocols.