NHIS justifies Akor's removal

Accra, Dec. 1, GNA - The Governing Council of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on Thursday defended the removal of the former Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Dr Samuel Akor, saying it was mandatory to do so.

"There was a job to be done and after evaluation we realised that it had not been done and so his contract was not renewed," Mr Agyeman Manu, Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), told a press conference in Accra.

He said the position of the Executive Secretary was a public one which should be advertised for interested candidates to apply according to the Public Services Commission regulations.

Mr Manu, who is the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, was reacting to a question from the media on the furore between Dr Akor and the Council, said the contract was not for life. He said the focus of the Council was to oversee the smooth implementation of the Scheme and it would not waste time on personalities.

Mr Frank Adu Jnr., Chairman of the NHIS Council whom Dr Akor had accused of engaging in acts that constituted conflict of interest, said: "I don't have a problem with anyone; that is why I have decided to keep quiet and focus on the scheme."

He said the scheme would give affordable health care to Ghanaians and called on all to support it.