Accra, Aug. 26, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday accused the government of deceiving Ghanaians on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Bill.
The party said government was in haste to pass the Bill because of pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to fulfil the agreement it has reached with the Fund to include a five per cent increase in the VAT in the 2003 budget.
"To achieved this, the NPP imposed a two-and-a-half per cent VAT on petroleum products, hence the near 100 per cent increase in the prices of petroleum products announced in January 2003," Mr Moses Asaga, Minority Spokesman on Finance said at a forum organized by the NDC to explain why its Members of Parliament boycotted the debate on the Bill.
He said the next plan of the government was to "hide a two-and-a-half per cent VAT in the National Health Insurance Bill under the cover of health insurance levy".
According to NDC, the bill was a very important document, which needed an intensive education and national debate before being passed. Mr Asaga said the NDC gave its full support in principle when the Bill was presented to Parliament.
"What we are asking the NPP government is to allow time for thorough public discussion and consultations in order to ensure that the scheme, when finally implemented meets the expectations of all Ghanaians."
Mr Asaga said it was not true that passing of the Bill would immediately end the cash and carry system because after passing it "the cash and carry system will go alongside the NHIS for about five to 10 years before it will be phased out."
Mr Asaga said the "double standard" position taken by the management of SSNIT on whether or not the two-and-a-half per cent deductions from workers' contributions would affect its operations was amazing.
"Why can't the government and SSNIT sit down and reconcile their pronouncements on this NHIS so that they will stop giving innocent Ghanaians contradictory statements?"
Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, a high ranking member of the party, described the NHIS Bill "as bogus and fraudulent" because it has not spelled out the minimum health benefit that Ghanaians would gain as pertaining in all insurance schemes.
He said the government lacked experience and urged the government to approach the NDC for free consultation on crucial national policies. Mr Ahwoi said there was no need to task poor Ghanaian workers for NHIS because part of the remaining 10 per cent of the VAT could be used in funding the scheme without any effect on the national projects.
"The ghosts of those who lost their lives during the infamous Kume Preko demonstration will hunt the NPP government if it dares to increase VAT by two-and-a-half per cent as it promised the IMF."
"We will continue the campaign until the right thing is done and Kufuor and his NPP government should not forget the fact that it is not every bill that is passed that can be implemented."
Squadron Leader Clend Mawuko Sowu, another senior member of NDC, accused the government of ignoring the background work done by the NDC on the NHIS because of they manner in which the transitional period was handled.
He said that during the transition period nobody was interested in tapping from his opponent how things were handled and how they were able to execute certain projects and policies without the public outcry. He therefore, urged the government to learn from their past mistakes and approach experienced people to lecture them on good governance. 26 Aug. 03
