Yaa Naa's Delegation Holds Talks with Striking TTH Doctors, Aims for Peaceful Resolution

Tamale, Northern Region - 25 April, 2025 - Ghana's revered Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II, has stepped in to mediate the ongoing doctors' strike at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), dispatching a high-level delegation led by Zangbalun Naa Dr. Yakubu II to broker peace.

The strike, now in its second day, has severely disrupted hospital services, leaving patients and their families in distress.

The delegation met with hospital management and representatives of the Doctors Association of Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH), urging the doctors to consider resuming critical services, particularly emergency care, while negotiations continue.

Yaa Naa Abukari II, in a message delivered on his behalf, acknowledged the doctors' dedication but appealed to them to prioritize saving lives.

“As a neutral facilitator, will convey your concerns to the minister and engage him to take the necessary steps to address your grievances. We implore you to consider the lives and hang in the balance.

“We urge you in the interim to find a way to ensure the continuity of emergency service. We’re willing to facilitate a meeting with your representatives and the minister to discuss the way forward.”

The doctors' strike was sparked by perceived "unwarranted attacks" from Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini, which the doctors felt were unprofessional and unacceptable. The strike has brought the hospital to a standstill, with emergency and outpatient services suspended indefinitely.

Yaa Naa Abukari II's intervention offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution. The traditional leader has offered to facilitate dialogue between the Ministry of Health and the doctors, conveying their concerns to the minister and working towards a lasting solution.

The Director of Pharmacy at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Salifu Alhassan Tiah, who spoke on behalf of the Acting CEO on April 25, was optimistic about the Yaa Naa's efforts to resolve the crisis, expecting a positive outcome.

He urged his colleagues to consider the welfare of patients and resume critical services.

“I want to appeal to colleagues that, as we are here, if there is any difficulty with our subsistence here, the ultimate place we will go to is his royal Highness, and if he is here, we have nothing to do than to accord this delegation the highest of respect, so we plead that we should all do well to take to heart the word they have for us,”.

Source: Lead News Online