Standoff at Tamale Teaching Hospital over CEO post as Kandahar boys riot

One person has been injured and properties vandalized in Tamale in an attack by a vigilante group affiliated to the New Patriotic Party, Kandahar Boys, on organizers of a news conference Monday morning.

The press conference was being held to mobilize residents demonstrate against one Dr. Daniel Akobila who allegedly stormed the Tamale Teaching Hospital to take over as the new CEO.

There is currently a standoff at the hospital after the CEO Dr. Prosper Akambong refused to handover the post claiming he hasn’t received any letter from any higher authority to stand down from his post.

Dr. Akambong refused to handover because according to him, a letter from the Health Ministry did not indicate he was no more the CEO of the Facility.

The demonstration by the group known as Coalition of Youth Groups in Tamale was to appeal to government to revoke the appointment of the new CEO and appoint a Dagomba kinsman to head the hospital.

It was, however, scuttled by the Kandahar Boys who stormed the Tamale Kalandan Park, where the news conference was being held with sticks, hammers, chains and other weapons to launch an violent attack on the organizers.

Scores of people massing up to attend the street protest took to their heels but a young man who identified himself as Abdul Rahman was assaulted. Drums and motorbikes were smashed.

Speaking to News men after the attack, a member of the Coalition of Dagbon Youth Groups, Bashiru Baba explained that the chiefs in the Tamale Metropolis sanctioned the demonstration after their plea to the Vice President to appoint an indigene for the CEO post was defied.

He was surprised the NPP vigilante group will perceive them as NDC members who want to destabilize the smooth running of the NPP administration in the region.

According to him, the group and traditional authorities are against the appointment of Doctor Akobila and will therefore use all legitimate means to express their dissatisfaction to the government including demonstrations.

Mr. Baba was quick to add that, “for now we have suspended the demonstration taking into consideration the advice from our leadership, but we will plan again to express our concerns”.

Series of corruption allegations from pro-NPP youth groups were leveled on the former CEO of TTH, Doctor Prosper Akanbong. Some of them had to lock up his office which took the intervention of the Northern Regional Minister to calm tensions at the facility.

Although, the groups were against the administration of Doctor Akanbong, they never recommended to government their preferred individual for the appointment of a new CEO until Doctor Akobila was appointed.