Workers deduction for NHIS would not affect SSNIT-Agyepong

Akim Oda (E/R), Nov 14, GNA - The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, on Friday said deductions of the two-and-half percent of workers Social Security contribution as seed capital for the National Health lnsurance Scheme (NHIS) would not affect the sustainability of the Social Security National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

He said workers would continue to earn their pension and those who contribute to the scheme would not make additional payment to the NHIS and would benefit from free health care after retirement.


Mr Owusu-Agyepong was addressing the third meeting of the first section of the Birim South District Assembly at Akim Oda on Friday. He said the NHIS had suffered misrepresentation from some sections of=


the public and urged assembly members to educate their people on the benefits of the scheme.


The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, assured communities that would not be able to pay the two million cedis as their contributions towards the provision of potable water in their areas that HIPC funds would be used to pay for the facilities on their behalf.

He said he was not happy about the way some contractors were working in the area and urged the assembly to blacklist any contractor who would do shoddy work.


Mr Osafo Marfo said contract had been awarded for the construction of a bridge on the "Apetesu" stream to link Akim Oda old town.


The District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Amprofi said as at September, internal revenue realised by the district stood at 796.9 million cedis as against expected revenue of 2.1 billion cedis.


He said the Urban Five Project was still under the pilot phase. Mr Amprofi mentioned projects sponsored by the DANIDA and European Union Micro which were at various stages of completion in the district as the construction of clinics at Bedukrom, Akyiakama Nkwanta, Onamabo, market stores/stalls at Asoboa and classroom blocks at Aprokumasi and Yaw Donkor among other projects.