Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akando has slammed the management of the Tamale Teaching Hospital for the poor sanitary conditions at the facility which he lamented could be an avenue for spreading disease among the populace.
The Minister stressed the water shortages at the facility, which the management used as an excuse for the insanitary conditions is quite lame stressed alternative arrangement should have been made to take care of the situation.
Hon. Kwabena Akandoh made an unannounced visit to the Tamale Hospital on Tuesday, following growing public outrage over the reported death of a patient at the facility’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The surprise visit, undertaken alongside the Member of Parliament for Tamale North and Deputy Minister for Roads, Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini was part of the Minister’s effort to get firsthand insight into the challenges plaguing the hospital’s service delivery.
The Minister did not mince words, visibly dismayed by the conduct of the hospital’s leadership and the dire state of infrastructure.
“I’m shocked by your behaviour in my presence. If this is how you act in front of me, I can only imagine how you treat regular patients. This is unacceptable,” he stated
One of the most alarming revelations during the visit was the persistent water shortage crippling critical departments of the hospital. Hospital staff disclosed that due to inadequate water supply, some sections—such as the emergency department and ICU—struggled to maintain basic hygiene and sanitation standards.
A staff member explained how patients and healthcare workers are forced to rely on limited water deliveries, often transported manually in yellow barrels. Head of the Emergency Department reportedly had to personally arrange water supply to keep operations going during a crisis.
The Minsiter expressed displeasure at the situation and stressed there should have been other arrangement to provide water to the facility daily until the problem is addressed permanently.
“If we’re not careful, people will come here sick and leave with even more diseases. This is a health facility, not a hazard zone,” the Minister said stressing the public health risks of the hospital’s deteriorating conditions.
Hospital administrators admitted that while the broader water shortage in the region affects their operations, interim solutions have not been effectively implemented.
“Until we resolve the issue completely, there must be alternative arrangements in place. That’s why you’re the CEO,” Akando told the facility’s management, insisting that leadership must find immediate alternatives to protect lives.
The Minister’s visit comes amid intensifying calls from citizens and civil society groups for accountability and urgent reforms in the hospital’s management and patient care standards.
Hon. Akando assured the public that his Ministry would be taking decisive action in collaboration with relevant agencies to address the systemic failings at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.