Medical Superintendent of the Tamale Central Hospital also known as the Northern Regional Hospital Dr (Med) Richard Anthony has led an emergency waste disposal and cleaning operation following a sit-down strike by casual workers.
Heaps of waste and overflowing waste bins were left in wards and corridors of the hospital producing unpleasant smell.
A visit to the hospital on Tuesday March 24 saw the medical superintendent and one regularized orderly clearing the piled waste.
Speaking exclusively to 3News.com, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Richard Anthony, said, his decision to lead an emergency clean-up exercise is humanitarian.
“We can’t close down the hospital because the casuals are on strike. Look at the numbers of people here and if we close the hospital where will they go? I took it upon myself to do this job so people can be attended to,” he explained.
He acknowledged that the concerns of the casual workers are legitimate and confirmed that the strike is due to unpaid salaries.
“We are engaging with them and also looking for some funds to pay and I’m hopeful something good will come up by the close of the week. The sanitation situation is very bad we need to work together now than ever,” he said.
Meanwhile, leadership of the aggrieved workers, have maintained that the strike will continue until all outstanding salaries are fully paid.
The challenge
The Tamale Central Hospital is managing a debt of roughly GHC3.36 million arising from an overpayment by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) following an audit of March 2018 claims.
The Hospital’s Management acknowledged the debt and financial constraints, during a visit by the Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to the Northern Region in 2025.
The financial constraints have led to challenges in maintaining essential supplies, with a loss of viability for oxygen supply arrangements due to accumulated debt.
The situation is part of a broader, recurring issue with financial pressures and labor unrest at the facility.
By Christopher Amoako
