Abuakwa South MP accuses Prez Mahama of not following due process in Tamale Hospital CEO's dismissal

Dr Kingsley Agyemang, Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat

A Member of the Health Committee of Parliament, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has criticised the recent dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), stating that the action taken by President John Dramani Mahama failed to adhere to the legally mandated procedure.

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, confirmed the dismissal of the CEO of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adam Atiku, on Joy FM's NewsNight programme on Tuesday, April 22.

Speaking on JoyNews' AM Show on Thursday, April 24, Dr Agyemang, MP for Abuakwa South, referenced the establishment act governing the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals, pointing specifically to Section 37 (1), (2) and (4) of the Act, which outline the proper protocol for both appointments and terminations within such institutions.

"The establishment of the teaching hospital or the Ghana healthcare services is guided by its establishment Act, with particular reference to 37 (1) and (2), that all members of the board will be appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State," Dr Agyemang explained.

He noted that the same Act provides clear guidance for termination procedures in subsection (4), stressing that presidential actions of this nature must also be done in consultation with the Council of State.

"If you read further to (4), that is where we are saying that, if there should be termination, the President must do so in consultation with the Council of State. This is where we are saying that it has not happened – it did not follow due process," he asserted.

The MP was quick to clarify that the argument was not about the President’s authority to appoint or dismiss, nor the sector minister’s involvement, but rather the procedural lapse that accompanied the decision.

"We are not saying the President does not have the right, or that it is right for the sector minister to do so. But we are saying that due process was not followed," he concluded.