Dr Richard Selormey is the General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association
The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Richard Selormey, has drawn a striking comparison between the leadership turmoil at Tamale Teaching Hospital and Manchester United’s frequent managerial changes.
This follows the dismissal of Dr Adam Atiku, the hospital’s CEO, amidst allegations of negligence that led to the death of a patient.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, visited the facility on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, to assess the situation.
After witnessing the hospital’s poor state firsthand, the Minister ordered the immediate dismissal of Dr Atiku, who has since been replaced by Dr Abubakar Bawah Abdulai.
Speaking in the wake of the hospital CEO’s dismissal and replacement, Dr Selormey warned that repeated top-level shake-ups, without addressing systemic issues, mirror Manchester United’s struggles with stability and performance.
“We have issues with the processes that have been undertaken to have that happen. If you do not work on the fundamentals and you just keep changing coaches, probably like Manchester United, you probably will not see much change eventually,” he said.
Dr Selormey was, however, quick to acknowledge the CEO’s responsibility and the Minister’s authority to make staffing changes but questioned the processes behind the dismissal.
“The CEO bears ultimate responsibility. We, as GMA, have not denied this, and we are not in any way challenging the minister’s power to go ahead and sack or employ a new person. We are talking about the processes involved. It is one thing sacking a CEO, and it is another thing going through the processes that help you understand where the real issues lie,” he added.
Dr Selormey’s statement echoes the sentiments of the Ghana Medical Association, which has strongly condemned the treatment of medical staff and described the dismissal as unjust and an abuse of power.
FKA/MA
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