National Health Insurance Authority opens new Asunafo South Office

Ahafo Region has strengthened its progress towards universal health coverage, recording 87 per cent population coverage under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2025, exceeding its target by 10 per cent.

The achievement was highlighted at Kukuom in the Asunafo South District when the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) commissioned a new district office to bring its services closer to residents and improve access to health insurance services.

The feat marks the second consecutive year that Ahafo has achieved universal health coverage within the NHIA’s operational scope.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, the NHIA Chief Executive, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, congratulated the region for sustaining its performance but cautioned that the achievement should be seen as a milestone rather than the end of the journey.

He urged regional and district teams to build on the progress by ensuring that every eligible resident was registered, active membership was sustained, and people in remote communities could access healthcare without difficulty when the need arose.

Dr Bampoe also commended Ahafo for being the first region to implement the One-Time Attendance Code (OTAC) system, saying the initiative was helping to strengthen accountability, reduce identity fraud and protect public funds.

He said the opening of the Asunafo South office was not simply about providing a new building but about bringing the NHIA closer to the people and improving the quality of service they received.

“With a population of over 90,000 people, our responsibility is significant,” he said. The Health Insurance was ultimately about people and not merely cards, computers, digital codes or buildings.

He therefore charged staff of the new office to work with professionalism, integrity, patience, compassion and urgency, saying the quality of service delivered must reflect the quality of the new facility.

The CEO also appealed to healthcare providers to stop charging NHIS Members illegal fees for services covered under the scheme. He assured providers that the Authority remained committed to prompt claims payments and appropriate tariff adjustments to support quality service delivery.

The Ahafo Regional Director of the NHIA, George Mawuli, said the region was proud of its performance and remained committed to registering all eligible residents and increasing active membership.

He expressed appreciation to Dr Bampoe and the Executive Management of the Authority for supporting the region with logistics, including a borehole for the Regional Office and a new vehicle for the Asunafo North Municipal Office to support field operations and the implementation of OTAC.

Mr Mawuli also reminded the Chief Executive of his earlier promise to provide the region with another vehicle if it achieved universal health coverage.

“Chief, you promised us that if we attain UHC, you would give us an additional vehicle to aid in monitoring. Sir, we've achieved it, and we've surpassed it, getting 87 per cent population coverage as at 2025, and that was 110 per cent of our target,” he said.

Responding to the appeal, Dr Bampoe immediately pledged to provide the Ahafo Region with a brand-new vehicle to strengthen field monitoring, community engagement and service delivery.

Mr Mawuli further disclosed that Ahafo had successfully rolled out the OTAC system across the region, making it the first region to do so. He attributed the achievement to the commitment, innovation and determination of staff.

He, however, appealed for continued support in logistics, staffing, infrastructure and internet connectivity to enable the region to sustain its performance.

The Ahafo Regional Minister, Charity Gardener, commended the NHIA for expanding its presence at the local level and urged stakeholders to support the effective use of the new facility to improve healthcare access and service delivery.

The Asunafo South District Chief Executive, Yinkah Benjamin, welcomed the investment and pledged the Assembly’s support to the NHIA and other stakeholders to ensure that the facility achieved its intended purpose.