Demonstration against NHIS in Central Gonja is politically motivated - DCE

Buipe, (N/R), March 16, GNA- Mr. Zakaria Yakubu, Central Gonja District Chief Executive has stated that the recent demonstration against the administration of the Central Gonja District Health Mutual Insurance Scheme (CGDMHIS) and the Scheme Manager was politically motivated. He said the demonstration was irrelevant and uncalled for adding: "It was only an orchestration to malign the Scheme Manager to achieve selfish interest. What was also evident about the demonstration was that it had political undertones". "It was calculated to make the government's policy on Health Insurance Scheme unpopular", Mr. Yakubu said.

The DCE was addressing a press conference jointly organised by the Central Gonja District Assembly and the Board of Directors of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme at Buipe on Tuesday. The press conference was in reaction to a recent demonstration at Buipe, the district capital, and certain allegations levelled against the implementation of the MHIS and the Scheme Manager Mr. Dauda Mahama a group calling itself, "Concerned Youth of Central Gonja District". The media carried reports on the demonstration and the presentation of a petition to the DCE by the Chairman of the group, Mr. Kuipo Harrison.

The petition, among other things, accused the Scheme Manager of "gross incompetence, abuse of office and lack of decorum to hold such an important position." It also accused him of consistently side-lining the interim management board in decision making, as well as disrespecting and fighting both clients and the workers, especially the accountant.

Mr. Yakubu described the allegations as "baseless" and explained that most of them were made out of ignorance since the MHIS was working with a plan, budget, goals and objectives, which were all put in place before the district acquired a certificate from the Registrar General's Department. He stated that, it was untrue that the Scheme Manager had sidelined the Interim Board of Directors in both decision-making and procurement saying: "We want to make our stance clear here that the Scheme Manager and the Board of Directors are in good working relationship". "We are in tune with the Manager because by the structure of the Board of Directors of every Scheme, the manager is the secretary to the Board...". On complaints by clients about the delay in issuance of identity cards and processing of claims, the DCE explained that these were not peculiar to the Central Gonja District alone.

Mr. Yakubu said so far, the district had performed creditably and mentioned that the scheme had registered 10,245 clients, issued 8,744 identity cards, while 1,501 cards were being processed. The scheme, he said, had also paid total claims of GHc 5,463,945.00 and collected premiums amounting to GHc 21,583.00 as at March 2008.

On the alleged misuse of the scheme's vehicle, the Board explained that there was a policy document, which was explicit on its usage, adding that, to the best of its knowledge, the vehicle was being used judiciously. "The Board and the District Assembly also wish to state that the Scheme Manger is not accountable to any individual or group of persons in this district. He is only accountable to the Board of Directors of the Scheme".

Mr. Yakubu noted with concern the threat by the group to the effect that he had been given a two-month ultimatum to dismiss the Scheme Manager. He said since this could only lead to a breach of the fragile peace prevailing in the district, the matter had been referred to the District Security Committee (DISEC) for appropriate action to be taken as soon as possible. Mr. Yakubu advised the leadership of the group "to channel their efforts towards the development of the infant district instead of intimidating people with unfounded allegations".