NDC is mischievous with NHIS figures – Gov't

General News on Thursday, April 18, 2019

Source: thechronicle.com.gh

2019-04-18

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being mischievous with figures for the number of members of the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIS).

The NDC held a press conference Monday, saying that Ghanaians had lost confidence in the NHIS, resulting in the closure of most beneficiaries.

But, addressing journalists in Accra to react to a previous opposition party, Deputy Information Minister Pius Enam Hadzide, said that "it is also It's ridiculous that the NDC is baduming a loss of confidence in the project, and contrary to what they say, the facts are that NHIS membership has risen from 18.6 million in 2016 to 20.1 million in 2018. "

The minister said the NDC had relied on budget estimates to argue its case for an increase in compensation expenses, describing it as misleading and in bad faith.

He further explained that as a growing institution, the NHIA was aware of the creation of six new regions and the need to have offices in the 216 districts, as there were only 176; on compensation.

So, "relying on that and alleging wrongdoing on the part of the NHIA can only be a bad act on the part of the NDC," he said.

The deputy minister added that the government could accept all constructive criticism from industry players and other stakeholders, but not from the NDC, which, he said, could not manage the sector properly in the past. during his eight years of reign.

He recalled that the administration headed by Akufo-Addo had inherited a debt of 1.2 billion GH ¢ left by the NDC. This debt has since been paid in full by the government led by Nana Addo.

"The NDC also confuses clearly [a] financing deficit of GH ¢ 425.7 million, with total payments of GH ¢ 1.2 billion in December 2016, when they left the office. For their education, [the] The funding gap is the difference between the total liabilities and the money owed to the NHIS, "he said.

He also took the opportunity to clarify issues related to the alleged scandalous revelation of certain investments with All Time Capital Limited, an NHIA investment in the private finance company, which began under the Mahama government in 2012.

"In fact, the investment of the first 5 million Ghana Cedis into a 365-day fixed deposit investment took place on July 26, 2012.

"The NDC continued to refinance the principal plus accrued interest and even made other investments with the same All Time Capital Limited.

"For the NDC to turn around and reproach the current administration that" the NHIS, without due diligence and indecent haste, transferred a huge amount of GHG 17,548,377.20 million in three installments to one Private Financial Corporation – All Time Capital Limited – believed to be an investment, "Is incredibly harmful and unworthy of a political party that demands the people's mandate. This further deepens the credibility crises in the NDC, "he said.

At the same time, the government, through the Deputy Minister of Information, badured the Ghanaian people that the NHIS is certainly not about to collapse, as the NDC claims.