Tamale Teaching Hospital saga: Police arrest leader of Kandahar Boys

The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested the leader of the pro-NPP vigilante group, Kandahar Boys, for the attack at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Monday, 13 August 2018 and lockup of the office of the CEO and Administrator of the hospital.

Baba Alhassan, was picked up in the morning of Thursday, 16 August 2018 after he refused to honour an invitation from the police.

The police had visited his house the previous day and left a message for him to report at the police station.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northern Regional Police DSP Yusif Tanko, told Class FM that they got information that “Baba Alhassan was around his place of abode. We quickly organised men and truly when we went we had him arrested. We have gotten him to the police station and he is assisting us with investigations.”

He said they are investigating charges of assault, unlawful entry and other offensive conduct.

The four persons picked up by the joint police and military personnel at a base of the Kandahar Boys in Tamale have been granted police enquiry bail after screening.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists have withdrawn their services in the Tamale Teaching Hospital in protest to the attack on the CEO of the hospital, Dr David Kolbilla.

This follows the strike by health workers (nurses, midwives, lab technicians) of the hospital, who say until the perpetrators are brought to book and a police post is built to ensure their safety, they will not return to work.

The registered Anaesthetists, in a statement, also said they feel unsafe and cannot continue to provide anaesthesia services to the hospital until the following conditions are met.

1. Restore the CEO of TTH

2. Arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this lawless act

3. Restore calm and peaceful working environment

4. Ensure safety and security for all CRAs in TTH

The youth, who attacked the hospital, accused the CEO of adopting a habit of issuing threats to staff, engaging in procurement breaches and neglecting the purchase of key hospital consumables such as examination gloves, needles and syringes, among others.

They also alleged that under Dr Kolbilla’s watch, the Tamale Teaching Hospital keeps deteriorating.

More patients continue to be turned away as health workers in the hospital remain on strike over the attack on the hospital.

But the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has promised to go to Tamale to help resolve the issue. He has also appealed to the striking health workers to resume work.