The Ghana Insurance Brokers Association (GIBA) last Saturday organised a health walk and medical screening as part of year-long activities marking 30 years of the association.

The walk which began from the premises of the National Insurance Commission (NIC) saw members parading to the Danquah Circle; through the Osu Oxford Street, to Osu Presbyterian Church, Osu Cemetery, through to the Ridge roundabout and back to the NIC premises for the aerobics session and screening.

Speaking to the media after the walk, the Vice-President of GIBA, Mr Shaibu Ali, said the theme for the celebration is '30 years of Insurance broking in Ghana, the achievements and the challenges'.

According to him the association has over the years achieved a lot but there are still so many challenges, therefore, the health walk and medical screening was an exercise to put members in good health to be able to handle the challenges ahead.

Mr Ali also appealed to the public to patronize insurance products from registered brokers as they would get the requisite information to guide them.

He said brokers are working tirelessly but there is the need for an attitudinal change in the insurance industry and urged the public to call brokers for information on the best deals and pricing policy.

He said insurance is changing by the day and the ordinary motor or fire insurance have now been improved and reintegrated with new emerging risks such as cyber risk amongst others.

He added bemoaned that insurance penetration in Ghana is low because apart from compulsory insurance policies only few people purchase insurance products and that can be attributed to inadequate disposable income and the negative perceptions of insurance policies.

The vice president, also advised Ghanaians to always use the services of insurance brokers so as to get the best of the industry when dealing with issues of insurance. He said one cannot get it wrong with an insurance broker because a broker knows every detail about insurance and is in the position to offer the best advice for insurance consumers.

“It is a lot of peace to the consuming public who want to consume insurance through a broker. The reason is that when you go to the insurance company directly they know very well that you don’t know anything about insurance so they’ll take you for granted, but when you go through a broker you get expert advice, and aside that the insurance company knows that whatever he knows about insurance the broker also knows so they won’t cheat you,” Ali stated.

Meanwhile the event hosted dignitaries such as the Commissioner of Insurance, CEO of the Private Enterprise Federation, M. Justice Ofori, CEOs/ MD of Insurance Broking firms, CEO/ MD of Insurance Companies and Heads of Associations and Institutions in the Insurance industry ( Ghana Insurers Association, Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana, Ghana Insurance College, WAAICA, ECOWAS Brown card scheme and many more.