"Cash-and-Carry" will go - Yaw Barimah

Koforidua, Oct. 6, GNA - The Minister of Employment, Manpower and Development, Mr Yaw Barimah, has said the government is committed to abolishing the cash-and-carry system and will not do anything with the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to jeopardise anybody's future.
According to him, the government is not taking the 2.5 percent deductions from workers' Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to jeopardise the future of workers.
Addressing the New Juaben Municipal Assembly at Koforidua on Monday, Mr Barimah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Koforidua, expressed concern about misinformation and misinterpretation being peddled on the NHIS by organised-labour in its opposition to the proposed deduction.
He reiterated that the 2.5 percent deduction would not affect the retirement benefits of workers since they will also benefit from the scheme while on retirement.
Mr. Barimah said non-contributors to SSNIT would also pay premium under the scheme, which will take care of their health needs.
Mr Hackman-Owusu Agyemang, Interior Minister and MP for New Juaben North, reiterated the the need for the people to accept the scheme, saying, "no where in this World is insurance free."
He said the government will not be daunted by the criticism on the scheme but will do what is good for the nation. "Government will take courageous and bold decisions which is right for the people."
Both Mr Barimah and Mr Owusu-Agyemang commended the New Juaben Municipal assembly for its developmental achievements so far and pledged to continue to offer assistance for more developments.