NHIS Blows GH¢ 10 Million

On Prescription Forms Alone

The National Democratic Congress, known for its stance and vehemence on corruption in national and political life, will have to clip the wings of its operatives and functionaries, if it intends surviving an attack on its credibility ahead of the December Presidential and parliamentary elections.

In surmounting that hurdle, particularly against the backdrop of unassailable judgment debt propaganda, they need to deal with political appointees heading institutions like the National Health Insurance Authority.

As we went to press yesterday, documents released to us by operatives of National Security, who themselves appeared worried over the magnitude of the scandal, established that the NHIS was in a deal, which has cost the national a staggering GH¢10,000,000 – for nothing but prescription forms, which any printer knows comes from off-cuts or waste newsprints.

In spite of the staggering sum spent on the deal, from which the NHIS was supposed to receive 2,000,000 copies, only a meager fraction was even actually delivered per Volta Impex Limited waybill No. 001208, which is 100,000.

The supply was sent to Central Medical Stores on November 4, 2011, via vehicle No. ER 1545X driven by Seth Berkoh.

And the corrupt and acquiescing company in the centre of the deal was Volta Impex Limited, a venture which by copies we retrieved from the Registrar-General, are into a potpourri of businesses, including import and export trade, car hiring services, building, road and civil engineering. They are also into general merchandizing and printing.

Significantly, whilst the MOH Procurement clearly spelt out quantities (two million) 2,000,000 for the GH¢10,000,000 deal, Volta Impex by the VAT invoice No 11/324601 it submitted, stated quantity 100,000 at unit price of 4.3478 for GH¢499,990 including VAT and NHIL. The figures indicate that Government straightaway is being shortchanged by about 500%.

Directors of the company, which according to our BNI sources and our independent checks, was registered only on March 28, 2011, are Ali Seidu, Muntari Tahiru and Muntawakal Ishak.

The deal dated August 3, 2011, required that Volta Impex Limited supplied MoH carbonless prescription forms at a unit price of 4.2500 totaling GH¢ 8,500,000 with a VAT and NHIL tax components adding up to the GH¢ 10,000,000.

The deal, according to documents in our possession, were signed jointly and severally, by the then Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh; and the NHIS Ag. Director of Finance, Ahmed Imoro and CEO of NHIS Sylvester Mensah.