Politicians urged not to play politics with health levy

Cape Coast, July 29, GNA - Mr Sammy Otoo, the Headmaster of Sammo Secondary School, in Cape Coast, has called on politicians not to play politics with the two-and-half per cent National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) that becomes operational on August 1.

He said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which replaces the cash and carry system, ''does not belong to any particular political party or individual", and should therefore supersede all personal interests.

Mr Otoo, made the call when he chaired a day's seminar organised by the Value Added Tax (VAT) secretariat in the Cape Coast Municipality, for a cross-section of VAT agents to introduce them to the NHIL. He appealed to the agents to intensify education on the levy. Mr Isaac Edumadze, the Central Regional Minister, said in a speech read on his behalf that the NHIL would not lead to an increase in the prices of goods and services.

He expressed the hope that the NHIS would relief Ghanaians of the exorbitant medical bills.

Mr Solomon Ansah, of the VAT secretariat said the less privileged in society would not be overburdened by the levy.