After nearly over two years since the Governing Board of the Tamale Teaching Hospital was controversially dissolved, Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, inaugurated a new panel on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, to replace the former members who abdicated in 2017 by the change of government.
The new governing board notably included an Accra-based businessman also a secluded financier of the NPP, one Mahmoud Hamisu Nasir- Deen, and a 32-year-old female presidential staffer, Madam Clara Napaga Tia Sulemana.
Little is known about the new board chairman, even to staff and managers of the hospital. Napaga Tia, however, is a popular young politician and naturally born believer of the NPP tradition.
As a fresh university recruit, Napaga Tia joined to become a campaign aide to the New Patriotic Party. She was quickly promoted to a presidential staffer when the party won the 2016 General Elections.
Her fast growing political prominence and influence amongst others may be traceable to her late father’s alliance with the olden NPP. Alhaji Tia Sulemana, a founding father of the NPP, was a powerful chief of Zosoli in Nanton near Tamale in the Northern Region.
Other members of the new governing body of the hospital are; Dr David Zawumya Kolbilla, Chief Administrator of the hospital, the Medical Director, Abbas Adam, Director of Administration, George A Atampugre, Nursing Services Director, Dangnikuu Evelyn-Eda, Director of Pharmacy, Hamidu Abudulai, Director of Finance, Kuuri Karim.
The remaining include; the Dean of Medical School, Prof Francis A Abantanga and two others appointed based on their qualification and experience. These individuals are Nana Agyei Mensah and Justice Eric Baah.
Speaking during the short Inaugural meeting, the minister of health, Mr Manu revealed that the new board may be reconstituted in few months to come as parliament is considering amendment of clause 39 of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospital Act 525.
“What that amendment seeks to do,” the minister explained, “is to change in the composition of teaching hospital boards, the membership. Because as we sit here (referring to the high powered engagement), is only me who is not a director. So it means all directors of the hospital sit on board and also sit on your management team, and that’s what the bill wants to stretch. So we may reconstitute if parliament approves the proposal cabinet has submitted to the house.”
“If that happens, not only in Tamale, all the other Teaching hospital boards that have been constituted would be actually changed.”
Nonetheless, the minister advised the interim board chairman not to encourage rumour peddling in his administration.
The minister said he expects the new governing body to move fast in working towards repositioning the image of the hospital away from the bad press in order to regain the trust of health care seekers.
“We want to see change within a very short time,” the minister instructed. “There are those saying we are where we’re because we didn’t have a boar, so if we now have a board, there is no justification to continue to be where we are. People should see that the board constitution has brought some new ideas and change.”
He also called for total cooperation and support from the staff. The board convened its first meeting immediately after members were sworn into office by the health minister.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Eliasu Tanko
