Tamale Teaching Hospital saga: It seems some groups are 'untouchable' – Agyeman-Manu

Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, will visit the Northern Region on Friday, 17 August 2018, to try to convince striking health professionals of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to call return to work.

The staff declared an indefinite strike following an attack on their CEO by a coalition of pro-NPP youth.

Ahead of his trip to the area, Mr Agyeman-Manu has condemned the attack on Dr David Kolbila.

Among the attackers were the Kandahar Boys.

Mr Agyeman-Manu told journalists in an interview that: “There is a history to these chasing outs and things like that… These aren’t something that is just happening. It beats everybody’s imagination. It looks like, I’m not pretty sure, that there are some people in Tamale that should not be touched, there are some groups in Tamale that will like to enforce their might… I had scheduled myself to commission 10 clinics in Central Region but I have cut my tour short, I’m going to Tamale tomorrow afternoon”.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Police Command has arrested the leader of the Kandahar Boys.

Baba Alhassan, was picked up in the morning of Thursday, 16 August 2018 after he refused to honour an invitation from the police.

In a related development, the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists has withdrawn its services in the hospital in protest to the attack on the CEO.

This follows the strike by health workers (nurses, midwives, lab technicians) of the hospital, who say until the perpetrators are brought to book and a police post is built to ensure their safety, they will not return to work.

The registered Anaesthetists, in a statement, also said they feel unsafe and cannot continue to provide anaesthesia services to the hospital until the following conditions are met.

1. Restore the CEO of TTH 2. Arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this lawless act 3. Restore calm and peaceful working environment 4. Ensure safety and security for all CRAs in TTH



The youth, who attacked the hospital, accused the CEO of adopting a habit of issuing threats to staff, engaging in procurement breaches and neglecting the purchase of key hospital consumables such as examination gloves, needles and syringes, among others.

They also alleged that under Dr Kolbilla’s watch, the Tamale Teaching Hospital keeps deteriorating.

More patients continue to be turned away as health workers in the hospital remain on strike over the attack on the hospital.