Majority members declare support for govt's position

Accra, Aug. 21, GNA - Most members of the Majority on Thursday backed government's decision to use two-and-a-half per cent of the worker and employer social security contributions to fund the proposed National Insurance Health Scheme.

The House, sitting without its 90-member Minority was pushing the National Health Insurance Bill through the consideration stage with its Majority of 20.

Mr Osei Kwame Prempeh, Chairman of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, had proposed a soft amendment that did not necessarily detract from government's decision but members interpreted it as being a mark of solidarity with opposers of the idea. The amendment read: "Any worker who contributes two-and-a-half per cent of his SSNIT contribution shall have that as premium or part thereof payable to his District Mutual Health Organisation." Mr Stephen Balado-Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South, said it was about time that workers in the formal sector contributed in cash towards the general well being of society.

He said farmers, who have contributed immensely towards the socio-economic transformation would be spared the burden of further sacrifice.

"Cocoa Farmers and other farmers have helped to build nation by sacrificing what should have been their legitimate money to government and now most of them can not even send their children to the schools that their sweat and blood built."

Dr Osafo Mensah, Eastern Regional Minister, said workers are been called up to show solidarity to their less privileged compatriots. Winding up before the vote was taken, Mr Osei Prempeh said he was only trying to make the parent law free from manipulation since an administrative fiat or a legislative Instrument (LI) would not be too proper.

He said: "If I were to argue against the principle I would have said many workers are under-privileged."

Meanwhile, Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, the Majority Leader, has described the timing of the motion on the National Health Insurance Bill as perfect and urgent.

He told a press conference after Thursday's sitting that the power and the right to introduce an urgent Bill to the House is the prerogative of the Majority Leader.

The Leader said he was meeting with stakeholders including Trade Union Congress to iron out differences that might arise out of the consideration of the bill.

He said the outcome of the consultation and the solidarity of the Majority backbenchers would determine when the Bill would be passed. Mr Owusu Agyepong said there was time and space for amendments and other ideas to be considered.

He said the Majority were sacrificing their holidays to work for "Mother Ghana, we think it is a noble idea".