Minister says NHIS is being politicised

Akrofrom (B/A), Jan 18, GNA - Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, has expressed regret that the National Health Insurance Scheme was being politicised. He said the bold steps taken by the government to implement the scheme demanded its total embrace by all peace loving Ghanaians. Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi was speaking at the commissioning of three separate 12-seat places of convenience at Akrofrom, Aworowa and Tuobodom.

The Minister funded the facilities at the cost of 300 million cedis in fulfilment of a campaign promise.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said those seriously trying to undermine the scheme by persuading people in the rural communities not to register to ensure its collapse should rather support it for the benefit of all. He cautioned Ghanaians to be wary of self-seeking politicians who were bent on undermining government policies and programmes and urged them to have confidence in themselves as well as in the government.

Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi urged the people to take advantage of the re-opening of the registration for the scheme and register. "The NPP government will not play partisan politics with the scheme that is on course as most metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies have started operating the scheme in earnest", Mr Prince Yaw Donyina, the Municipal Chief Executive for Techiman, cautioned the people against discrediting the government with half-truths "because it (government) has taken bold initiatives to put the country on a sound economic footing".

Abusuapanin Kwadwo Yeboah who deputized for Nana Yeboah Ameyaw, the Chief of Akrofrom, thanked the minister for his concern to help raise the standard of living of the people. Nana Ameyaw appealed for more projects such as water supply, saying the people would assist with communal labour.