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Front Page
OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF SABOTAGING NHIS
FRIDAY, 22ND APRIL, 2005 -- The newly created Tain District in the Brong-Ahafo Region is lagging behind in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because the district co-ordinating director (DCD) allegedly declined to release the money meant for that purpose.
The attitude of the DCD, Ibrahim Acheampong, it was further alleged, was as a result of the refusal of the working group chairman of the scheme to give in to certain demand of Mr Acheampong.
These charges were contained in a resolution by the people of the district and copied to various agencies including the minister for local government and rural development, head of civil service, the auditor-general, Serious Fraud Office, regional co-ordinating director, Bureau of National Investigation.
Dated April 15, 2005 and signed by Fosu Mensah Michael as spokesman, the resolution called for official investigation into the allegations. It also demanded the immediate suspension of the DCD “to ensure he stays away from investigation.”
The resolution also levelled other allegations against the co-ordinating director, who it said had caused financial loss to the district. It cited his alleged refusal to heed a letter by the works sub-committee of the district assembly not to award some projects on contract because such projects had not received the assembly’s approval. This, the resolution said cost the assembly ¢2.5 billion.
Acheampong was also said to have refused to pay a contracting firm, Pelpuo Company Limited, which had completed a school project at Makala near Banda, because the contractor would not give in to some demands he made.
The resolution said the people of Tain fought for a separate district to enable the area to see accelerated development. However, “we are disappointed, disillusioned and have lost hope due to the behaviour of the DCD.” “We are dissatisfied with the administrative idiosyncracies of the DCD and have finally resolved to register our displeasure and if immediate action is not taken, we shall advise ourselves.”
The paper, contacted Mr Acheampong in his office at Nsawkaw on Wednesday, in the presence of his deputy, Mr John Nyarko, Nsawkaw area council chairman, Mr Edmond Kusi and Mr Emmanuel Adu, Tainso Bepoase assemblyman for his side of the story.
The minister for health, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), barely two weeks ago expressed concern about some districts delaying the implementation of the scheme by misapplying the ¢250 million seeding released to them to provide infrastructure for the scheme. He warned that affected districts would be dealt with.
The minister was speaking in Sunyani at a meeting to review the scheme towards its take off in June.
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