President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr. Abubakar Bawah Abdulai, a senior official at the University for Development Studies (UDS), as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). This appointment follows the dismissal of Dr. Adam Atiku, who was relieved of his post on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, after a widely publicized incident involving the death of a patient at the hospital.
Dr. Atiku’s removal came in the aftermath of an unannounced visit by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who was responding to the reported death of a patient, Bavug Salim. According to reports, Salim passed away due to the lack of a functional ventilator at the hospital’s emergency department. The situation escalated when a video surfaced online, showing a heated verbal exchange between the Minister and the Head of the Accident and Emergency Unit, Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, during the inspection.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has since condemned the dismissal of Dr. Atiku, calling it a breach of due process and an “abuse of power.” In a strongly worded statement issued on April 23, the GMA demanded a formal apology from both the Health Minister and Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini, criticizing their conduct as inappropriate and undermining of professional protocol.
Dr. Bawah Abdulai’s appointment ushers in a new chapter at TTH amid growing concerns from the medical fraternity about political interference in healthcare administration. The development has triggered broader conversations about accountability, medical infrastructure, and the importance of adhering to established administrative procedures in public health governance.
