MP for Bawku West says NHIS is good

Zebilla (U/E), Dec 18, GNA- The Member of Parliament for Bawku West, Mr Cletus Avoka, has said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is better than the "cash and carry" system. The problem, however, is that when the NPP promised to abolish the cash and carry system, some Ghanaians misconstrued the proposed change to imply free medical care.

Mr Avoka said this when he addressed the Bawku West Assembly at its third ordinary session in Zebilla. He said the reason for this confusion is that the government did not hold proper consultation with the leadership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Explaining some developments in parliament, Mr. Avoka said the minority boycotted parliament on the extension of the state of emergency in Dagbon and the NHIS bill because parliament did not follow the procedure for handling urgent business in the house.

Mr Avoka said boycotts or walkouts are nothing new since many other political parties in the country have staged them before. "The principle as it pertains now is that let the minority have their say and the majority their way," he said.

On next year's general election, the MP sounded the alarm bell to the assembly that though the district enjoyed relative peace and stability since 1992 to the 2000 elections, there are ongoing challenges and provocations which posed a potential threat to the peaceful atmosphere in the constituency.

Mr Avoka recounted what he termed extreme provocations, insults, intimidations and falsehoods he had endured with extra tolerance and level headedness and appealed to people in the area to learn from the past and change for the better.