Confusion rocks Tamale Teaching Hospital; 2 CEOs at post

Two Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are currently running the Tamale Teaching Hospital, in a raging confusion that has rocked the premier and referral hospital in the three regions of the North.

Dr Prosper Akanbon who was appointed by the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration in September 2014, has up to 2018 September to end his tenure but a new CEO, Dr. David Zawumya Kobila has since been appointed.

Checks by mynewsgh.com, reveal that Dr Akanbon only received a letter notifying him about the appointment of the Gynecologist as his successor without disclosing his fate for which reason he has refused to hand over as directed.

The confusion of the latest appointment reached its crescendo on Monday June 12, 2017 when Dr. Prosper Akanbon refused to hand over office to a newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Zawumya Kobila, who was due to begin work as a substantive head of the facility.

The handing over ceremony which was getting to the climax was abruptly aborted after Dr. Akanbon had allegedly received a call from an unknown source. The supposed outgoing CEO insisted that he could not hand over office to the new CEO because he was yet to receive a formal letter from the Ministry of Health suggesting he was dismissed or transferred to a different facility.

But his action stirred up the angers of some footsoldiers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who had come in their numbers to witness the ceremony and usher in the new CEO into office.

They insisted on Dr. Prosper Akanbon must hand over or incur their wrath, but for the timely intervention of the new CEO and the Special Aide to the Northern Regional Minister, Shani Bawumia the situation nearly turned bloody.

Dr. Akanbon who refused media interview quickly left the scene to avoid any confrontations from the angry NPP youth who had earlier asked for his dismissal.

Dr. David Kobila also declined comments but rather charged the Youth to restrain themselves while efforts were in the offing to resolve the impasse.

Meanwhile, the outgoing CEO of TTH Dr. Prosper Akanbon who assumed office in 2014 has come under intense pressure and attacks in recent times following his alleged involvement in some corrupt practices at the facility. He was also accused of incompetence, conflict of interest, favouritism and other malfeasances.

Under his watch, there were allegations of prescription of expired drugs, looting of essential drugs by some Senior Doctors to stock their private hospitals and frequent shortage in oxygen supply among others.

This resulted in series of attacks, demonstrations and criticisms especially from some vigilante groups of the NPP who at some point barricaded his office and handed over the keys to the Northern Regional police command.

It took the intervention of the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed and some chiefs in Tamale to get Dr. Akanbon back to office.

In ensuring efficiency, proper management and transparency at the TTH, the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed a new CEO, Dr. David Kobila to take over from Dr. Prosper Akanbon but not without controversies.

Mynewsgh.com gathered the NPP Kandahar Boy stormed the Kaladan park in Tamale to foil a planned demonstration by a group calling itself the Coalition of Dagbon Youth.