The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed strong condemnation of recent “disturbing developments” at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
In a press release dated April 23, 2025, the GMA criticized the treatment of doctors at the hospital’s emergency unit during a visit by the Minister of Health and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North.
The GMA also denounced the subsequent dismissal of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The GMA stated that the manner in which the CEO’s dismissal was carried out was an “affront to due process” and an “abuse of power” by the Minister of Health. The association declared its solidarity with their colleagues in the face of these perceived injustices.
Furthermore, the GMA raised serious concerns about the “ill-informed media audit” of a patient’s death. They argued that this action breaches patient confidentiality, exposes the facility to medico-legal risks, and prejudges the issue before a proper investigation. The GMA emphasized that the doctors “have already been tried in the court of public opinion”
The press release also highlighted that the head of the Emergency Unit has received threats and faced cyberbullying, putting him and other staff at risk of physical harm and psychological trauma.
The GMA warned that these actions, if continued, could demoralize committed workers and reduce public confidence in the health system.
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While acknowledging the concerns of the patient’s relatives, as well as those of the Minister and MP, the GMA stressed that there are established procedures for resolving grievances, rather than resorting to “these circuses of public engagement” that often incite public sentiment without providing lasting solutions.
In its demands, the Ghana Medical Association is calling for an unqualified apology from the Minister of Health and the Member of Parliament for Tamale North for what they deem to be an “unwarranted attack” on the staff involved.
The GMA also called on the hospital to ensure that due process is followed in ascertaining the facts surrounding the family’s grievances and to find lasting solutions.
Additionally, they urged the hospital management to ensure the safety of the staff involved and provide them with necessary psychological support.
The GMA affirmed its commitment to engaging in objective discussions about the systemic issues within the health sector to achieve lasting and holistic solutions, rather than publicly blaming doctors and other health workers for problems beyond their control.
The association acknowledged the challenging circumstances under which healthcare workers operate, often with limited resources.
Read the GMA’s full statement below:
