Mahama lauds the NHIS policy, not implementation

Accra, April 28, GNA - The Leader of the People's National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Mahama, has stated that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) being introduced by the government is viable and has the potential to bring relief to patients.

He however, criticised the way it was being implemented and cautioned that it could become bankrupt.

Dr. Mahama expressed these sentiments at a ceremony to swear in the new executive of the University of Ghana branch of the PNC. He said the policy was a brainchild of the PNC, which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had decided to borrow.

The PNC Leader expressed worry about the huge sums of money that had already gone into purchasing vehicles and procurement of other resources meant to run the scheme.

He stressed that the government of the PNC would not recruit any overlapping staff to handle the programme. "We would rather put the Ministry of Health in charge of the scheme," he emphasised. A lecturer of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Yakubu Saaka, who presided over the ceremony tasked the students to redouble their efforts in sensitising their colleagues on the mission of the PNC.

Professor Saaka,who was a Minister of State during the Liman Administration further asked members of the party to be committed towards the propagation of the party's manifesto.

He said that was the only way they could get the electorate to unseat the NPP government in the December general elections. On his part, the newly elected president of the Legon branch of the party, Mr. Mejida Abubakar expressed the hope that victory for the PNC in the next elections was assured.

He said Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. Liman were the only Ghanaian heads of state who had no corrupt labels. He therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to vote the PNC to power to continue the good works of the two leaders.

Other speakers who addressed the gathering were the National Youth Organiser, Mr Bernard Borna and Mr. Charlse Kofi Wayo, a leading member of the party.