Takoradi, Sept 17, GNA - Mr Kwaku Darko-Afari, Public Affairs Officer of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), on Wednesday called on President John Agyekum Kufuor not to give his assent to the recently passed National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Bill passed by Parliament.
He said the government, organised labour and other stakeholders should meet and further discuss the NHIS Act and ensure that it meets the collective aspirations of all Ghanaians in the provision of health care. Mr Darko-Afari made the appeal at an Emergency Western Regional Forum organised by the TUC to discuss the use of two and half per cent of workers contribution from SSNIT to support the NHIS.
He said organised labour would embark on its intended demonstration on September 24 this year if the government fails to listen to the leadership of the TUC.
Mr Darko-Afari said the deduction of two and half percent would further impoverish pensioners' grants and cut short the lifespan of the Social Insurance and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
Mr Darko-Afari expressed regret that there is no legislative instrument (LI) backing or explaining benefits to be derived from the NHIS.
He quoted Page 31 of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) 2000 manifesto which said, "The NPP government, workers and their employers, local communities and religious bodies, will be encouraged to establish their own health insurance schemes, while SSNIT shall concentrate on administering the national pension scheme and will not extend its coverage to health insurance."
Mr Darko-Afari said the present NHIS is contrary to the provisions of the party's manifesto and could collapse community-based health insurance schemes.
Mr Prince William Ankrah, Acting Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU), appealed to the government to widen the tax net and include the private and informal sectors in the NHIS. "Government would be making a serious error of judgement if it uses its authority to impose the NHIS on organised labour.''
He said most of the amendments proposed by the TUC were not included in the final act of the NHIS and therefore, said such a practice would make workers loose their contributions.
Mr Ankrah called on the management of SSNIT to re-assess their operation costs and reduce it considerably to enable workers to benefit from the fund.
He suggested that all ambiguity in the existing SSNIT law should be checked to make the scheme more accessible, worker friendly and socially responsible.
Participants at the forum urged the government not to deduct their contributions but rather look for funds elsewhere to make the NHIS operational.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Civil Servants Association (CSA), Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) and the Judicial Services Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG) attended the forum.
