From: Benjamin Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Yamoussoukro, La Cote d'Ivoire

Yamoussoukro, April 9, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has denied allegations that Government would abolish the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He gave the assurance that implementation of the scheme would be reviewed and its shortcomings addressed to improve health care delivery in line with Government's agenda of a better life for all Ghanaians. President Mills gave the assurance when addressing the Ghanaian community at Yamoussoukro, in La Cote d'Ivoire during his visit to La Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Republic of Togo. The visit was to express appreciation to the Governments for attending his inauguration as President of the Republic of Ghana last January and seek ways to strengthen bilateral ties with them. In addition, it was to interact with Ghanaian communities in these countries to discuss issues at home with them. President Mills said the scheme would not be abolished while the School Feeding Programme for children in basic schools would be enhanced to cover all children, because currently it was being implemented in one out of every 10 schools.

He said Government would consider a suggestion made by Ghanaians in La Cote d'Ivoire for banks in Ghana to accept identification provided by Ivorian authorities to Ghanaian residents in that country in their transactions as well as the National Identification Programme to cater for all Ghanaians irrespective of where they lived.

President Mills said Government would issue temporary identification documents to Ghanaians living outside to facilitate their transactions with banks in Ghana.

He called on Ghanaians to continue to be law-abiding to maintain friendly and brotherly links between the two countries, because unity was vital, and reiterated his message of national reconciliation, peace and fair without selective justice to anyone. On the discovery of oil, President Mills pledged to utilise the revenue in an open and transparent manner for the oil find to become a blessing on the citizenry.

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD said Government was determined to be honest and transparent in its performance.

He said appointment of Ministers, Deputy Minister, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives had been completed and Government would not renege on its promises. Nana Owusu, Chief of Ghanaian community in La Cote d'Ivoire, expressed appreciation to President Laurent Gbagbo for the warm reception accorded the Ghanaian delegation.