Category: Ghana News

To defuse growing tensions, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has expressed regret over the events surrounding his unannounced visit to Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), emphasizing that he never intended to disrespect medical professionals during the encounter.

The visit, which took place on April 22, was reportedly triggered by the death of a patient, Bavug Salim, who allegedly passed away due to the absence of a functional ventilator in the hospital’s emergency unit.

A video of a heated exchange between Akandoh and Dr. Valentine Akwulpwa, the Head of the Accident and Emergency Department, quickly went viral, fueling widespread public debate and criticism.

In response to the incident, the Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) announced an indefinite suspension of emergency and outpatient services. The group cited “unwarranted attacks” from the Health Minister and other officials, demanding unconditional apologies and immediate provision of essential medical equipment and supplies before any resumption of services.

However, in a press briefing held in Accra on Thursday, April 24, Akandoh recalled a personal experience to underscore his empathy and commitment to the health sector.

“It can happen to anyone. It happened to me. When I had an accident, the first place I was rushed to was Nyinahini District Hospital. I never thought I’d find myself there, but I did,” Akandoh shared, conveying his understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare workers.

Reaffirming his respect for the medical community, Akandoh stated, “And so, today, from where I sit, I will contribute my quota to the development of this sector. I have no intention to disrespect any medical doctor or health worker; that will be the last thing I will do. But let it be said that respect is reciprocal.”

The Minister also expressed his willingness to collaborate, adding, “I am ready to work with everyone in the sector.”

He directly appealed to the medical staff at TTH, saying, “My humble appeal to the medical doctors and health practitioners at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let us call off the strike and all regroup and strategize the way forward.”

Akandoh noted, “There are things we can address using our internally generated funds, so let’s tackle the issues as they are.”

Despite the Minister’s efforts to clarify his position, the fallout from the incident persists. Akandoh’s decision to dismiss TTH’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adam Atiku, has been widely criticized. The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has condemned the dismissal, calling it a violation of due process and an abuse of power, and has urged the Minister to offer an apology.

The World Bank has pledged to support Ghana in increasing access to renewable energy. It focuses on delivering accessible and low-emission electricity. It also aims to supply reliable and affordable electricity to businesses and individuals. The Bank has also committed to supporting initiatives aimed at addressing perennial flooding in the country. Its plans include improving infrastructure to enhance flood resilience.

Mr. Wencai Zhang is the World Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer (MDCAO). He gave these assurances over the weekend. This was during a visit to several World Bank-supported projects in Ghana.

As part of his tour, Mr. Zhang visited Africa’s largest single solar rooftop project, commissioned in July 2024. Located within the Tema Free Zone, the 16.82-megawatt installation provides a cleaner and more cost-effective energy source for businesses. He also inspected drainage works and large-scale flood management infrastructure under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project. This includes upgrades to the lower Odaw channel and Korle Lagoon. The upgrades have three primary goals. They aim to reduce flood risk. They focus on improving solid waste management. They aim to enhance access to basic services in communities within the Odaw River Basin.

Mr. Zhang concluded his visit at the redeveloped Kwame Nkrumah Memorial and Mausoleum Park. This is a flagship site completed under the World Bank-funded Ghana Tourism Development Project (GTDP).

Speaking with management of LMI Holdings, the developers of the solar rooftop project, Mr. Zhang emphasized the World Bank’s continued commitment to supporting sustainable and resilient infrastructure that generates both social and economic benefits.He expressed confidence that the 16.82MW solar project would significantly lower energy costs, enhance efficiency in the energy sector, and contribute to reducing emissions.

“Looking ahead, we are working on new projects to support the government’s industrialisation drive and expand renewable energy development in Ghana. These initiatives will take our cooperation to a new level…We will not only provide financing but also share global best practices on how other countries are reforming their energy sectors to develop renewable sources like rooftop solar,” he added.” Mr. Zhang stated

Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, lauded the World Bank for its support. He affirmed the government’s commitment to integrating more solar energy into the national grid. He encouraged LMI Holdings to take interest in future projects. He urged them to offer competitive pricing. Ghana is preparing to launch an all-in-one solar system for streetlights.

The Opposition Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee expressed concern over the escalating dispute in Bawku. They labelled it as a humanitarian crisis. They also see it as a threat to national security.

During his appearance on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, 14th April, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour brought attention to using advanced weapons in the conflict zone. He warned that this could lead to a dangerous escalation. It could possibly spiral out of control if swift action is not taken.

According to him, the situation in Bawku has escalated into a full-blown humanitarian crisis. The death toll continues to climb, causing fear among the residents. As a result, children cannot attend school, and essential services such as education and healthcare are affected. Teachers, doctors, and nurses are refusing to work in Bawku.

“What the Minority is calling for is calm. First, we extend our condolences to the bereaved families, sympathies to the injured, and to those who have lost property…But more importantly, we say Bawku deserves peace, and for that to happen, all feuding factions must exercise absolute restraint”.

Although ethnic divides have historically fueled the Bawku conflict, Rev. Ntim Fordjour cautioned that its present path is much more concerning.

According to him, a concerning change has emerged. Not all attacks are now confined to the feuding factions alone. Instead, civilians and security forces are also caught in a dangerous standoff.

If the disagreement escalates to confrontations, it will involve officers tasked with safeguarding the public. It will also involve the citizens they are meant to preserve. In that case, we will enter bleak territory.

The Ranking Member’s most concerning disclosure was his depiction of the armaments’ magnitude and complexity. They were used in the war.

Rev. Fordjour expressed deep concern over the weapons available to those involved in the conflict zone, explicitly referring to their people.

The danger posed by the presence of these weapons has led to an increase in confrontations with law enforcement. Regardless of their source, the government must immediately prevent their circulation.

Rev. Fordjour urged swift and organised action to confront the origin of these armaments.

“This is no longer about machetes or homemade rifles. We’re talking about high-grade military-style arms being used in a domestic conflict. Such weaponry emboldens the factions and makes peacekeeping difficult for security forces.”

The MP pleaded for political unity and a nonpartisan approach. This responded to the question of what further steps the government should take.

According to him, the government’s initial priority should be to remove politics from this conflict. “One of the first things the government must do is to depoliticise this conflict. Every political actor must remove the undertones and underpinnings of politics from this. This is not the time for political point scoring,” he said.

He denounced the current practice of exploiting the conflict for political gain.

“We’ve heard the dangerous rhetoric, comments like ‘when a certain party is in power, Bawku is peaceful; when another is in power, the conflict escalates.’ This kind of narrative only serves to inflame tensions. We need to rise above it.”

Rev. Fordjour backed the mediation process led by Otumfuo, deeming it necessary to address the dispute’s traditional origins.

He maintained that any peace initiative would fail. This would happen unless swift measures were taken. It is crucial to disarm factions and restrict access to weapons.

“We are supporting the government in this. This is a nationalistic effort. But the government must step up more. We cannot pretend that this is business as usual. The kind of arms being used in Bawku right now are not the kind you find in regular criminal activity. This is organised, dangerous, and must be dealt with now.”