Kwabena Mintah Akandoh is the Minister of Health
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has faced intense public backlash online following his outbursts directed at staff of the Tamale Teaching Hospital during his unannounced visit to the facility, with critics calling for his immediate removal.
The incident occurred when the minister engaged in a heated confrontation with staff over the death of a patient at the facility’s Accident and Emergency Ward.
During his exchange with one of the doctors at the ward, the minister became displeased and expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the official was addressing him.
Mintah Akandoh, expressing his displeasure, could be heard saying, “Even me a minister, look at the way you are behaving in front of me, so, you can imagine how you treat others.”
He further went on to condemn the official’s behavior, raising concerns about the facility’s approach to communication, particularly in how it engages with ordinary citizens who seek medical care.
“How can you behave like this? It means you are doing worse things here. I’m even worried about [sic]. There is a problem here so if a commoner comes around how can they talk to this man here. How would he be able to communicate with them? There is a problem,” Akandoh fumed.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Ghanaians strongly condemning the minister’s behavior.
Critics argue that the minister’s approach was unwarranted, pointing out that health practitioners are often poorly equipped yet are expected to deliver quality care despite the lack of necessary tools and resources at the health facilities where they work.
Others further suggested that the minister should have focused on providing solutions to address the pressing issue of under-equipped health facilities, rather than directing his frustrations at health professionals who continue to deliver care under these challenging conditions.
They emphasised that subjecting the TTU doctor to ridicule was unfortunate and they have, therefore, called on the president to sanction him over his actions.
Read some of the posts below:
chale this can’t be the health minister of ghana mahama we beg https://t.co/0A3mdjWcMV
— dracojeremy🔫 (@jeremyb___) April 22, 2025
The approach of the Health minister needs to be brought in question.
Health workers at the frontlines sacrifice way too much of themselves and lives to be treated with such contempt.
These are systemic issues, a better and more efficient approach could have ensued.
— Helen of Troy 🔱 (@i_am_sitratulah) April 22, 2025
This minister needs to be fired immediately. Such irresponsible and reckless commentary. How do you even audit a mortality in front of cameras with the aim of subjecting the doctor to ridicule? It’s unethical and unheard of. A whole health minister?! https://t.co/Q8nY3ilgPz
— Psalm (@Kanton483) April 22, 2025
Health workers deserve better in this country. They are arguably the most committed sector staff in our national setup. Underpaid, under equipped and overworked. Yet, they receive the most stick.
EQUIP THEM AND STOP THE SCAPEGOATING. https://t.co/O7fP2HziBZ
— tzn. (@oneman1000_) April 22, 2025
Shouting on the doctor for not having water to clean the hospital washroom as the HEALTH MINISTER OF GHANA really be some plot twist o…
Only in Ghana mm🚶🏾♀️
— OIL.EMPIRE⚜️ (@ms_kerena) April 22, 2025
An under-resourced doctor getting dragged by a clueless minister.. more fire in that country 🔥🔥🔥
— Kwadwo Sheldon (@kwadwosheldon) April 23, 2025
the irony of all these unannounced hospital visits from current and past Health Ministers is they know exactly what these hospitals need. It’s on their desks. When you go and see something bad, are you fixing it or you are blasting and creating content. Gimmicks!
— tzn. (@oneman1000_) April 22, 2025
Health minister should always be a clinical health worker with a public health background👍🏾
— Twumasi (@twumzzzz) April 22, 2025
Ghanaian doctors Dey br3 oo😂😂. 6 years intensive studying just to be blamed for infrastructural issues https://t.co/4XDW0y3ftd
— Hazel Kaizoku (@meister_kwame) April 22, 2025
Highly unethical behaviour from this minister.
How do you put live cameras in the face of health professionals and ask them about a patient’s death? This is dangerous behaviour. https://t.co/6LVjJAwym7
— Lady (@DoctoraBadek) April 22, 2025
health minister calling for improvements in the health sector, lands minister crying yesterday…these new crop of ministers now must be thinking they’re one of us https://t.co/A1zkPiGOYS
— dracojeremy🔫 (@jeremyb___) April 22, 2025
The expert is telling the politicians what the problem is, but in the end it is his posture and conduct that is the problem. I actually logged out when Muntaka said we’ve not procured any fire tenders since 2016. What should be normal is the ideal situation in our Ghana. https://t.co/2gDMgDRMGI
— Collins Atta Poku (@PapaPoku) April 23, 2025
That’s why we need medical doctors in these positions because this minister ein brain all be say “but if the vent isn’t there, you can do something else in the meantime”
My guy the ventilator is the meantime. The patient, will die, without the ventilator. What is not clear here?
— Weffrey Jellington (@jeffwellz) April 22, 2025
System no dey work but you raise camera enter ER dey go blast workers. Vhim!
— Ozyvet (@Evans__a) April 22, 2025
If that doctor decides to leave Tamale and move to the US to start afresh you’ll start seeing “he’s unpatriotic” , “a whole consultant” meanwhile see the nonsense he was being subjected to
— Hazel Kaizoku (@meister_kwame) April 22, 2025
MAG/AE
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