NDC rigging plot in motion

-As biometric registration starts tomorrow

The opposition New Patriotic Party says it has uncovered a grand scheme by the Mills-Mahama led National Democratic Congress government to rig the up-coming December elections with the connivance of officials of the National Health Insurance Authority, and the National Identification Authority.

According to the main opposition party, managers of the National Health Insurance Scheme across the country were summoned over the weekend to emergency meetings in the regions across the country to set up special registration centres in their scheme areas to register “certain people” under the operation “Special Registration Exercise.”  

In a press statement issued and signed by the party's General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the party indicated that the NDC had instructed officials of NHIS to complete the exercise within two weeks while regional managers have up to April 3 to submit the batches for card printing.

Some of the selected schemes in the Greater Accra region are Ashiedu Keteke, Dangbe East, Ashiaman, Tema, La, Kpeshie, Dangbe West and Ga, Ayawaso. Ashanti region has three scheme areas: Asokwa, Bantama and Ejura-Sekyeredumasi.

Keta, Ketu, Ho, Hohoe, Kpando, Nkwanta, North Tongu, Kpevie, Jasinka, Krachi West, South Tongu, Akatsi and Kadjebi are also the selected scheme areas from the Volta region. Northern region has Tamale, Bimbilla, Savelugu, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, Sawla, Bole, Damongo, Karaga, Gushiegu, Kumbungu, and East Mamprusi.

Techiman, Kintampo North, Kintampo South, Pru, Sene, Attebubu, Nkoranza, Jaman North and Kintampo South were also selected from the Brong Ahafo region.

Upper East comes with Bolgatanga, Nabdam, Talensi, Bawku, Garu-Tempane, Builsa North as well as Zebilla.

Eastern region has Lower Manya-Krobo, Afram Plains, Akwapim South, whereas Upper West Wa, Nadowli, Lawra-Nandom and Sisalla East with no representation from the Western and Central region.

The NPP finds it difficult to understand why with the exception of Western and Central regions, all the regions are part of the so-called Special Registration Exercise.

The party further added that it cannot comprehend why there are 13 Schemes in the Volta region participating in the 'exercise', with only three each in the Ashanti and Eastern regions.

The NPP stated that they are aware that NHIS registration card issuance usually takes three months but wonders “why and how this 'Special Registration Exercise' is being conducted within a week, and just before the start of national voter registration.”

Knowing fully well that the voter registration exercise is due to start Saturday, March 24, the party wants reasons from the NDC government with regards to the issuance of these cards at this time.

It is also questioning the motivation behind this so-called 'Special Registration Exercise' in which NHIA intends to charge people a reduced fee of GH¢ 15.00 whereas the standard fee for NHIS registration is GH¢23.00

The opposition NPP asked: “if it is a normal exercise done at the scheme manager's discretion, how come it is being done at the same time across the country?”

The Party, however, cautioned those behind this purportedly 'gargantuan attempt' to defraud the Ghanaian people to be mindful of the consequences.