Obuasi NHIS manager given ultimatum to issue cards to members

Obuasi, April 10, GNA - Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, on Friday gave a week's ultimatum to the Obuasi National Health Insurance (NHIS) Scheme Manager, Mrs Edna Gyau Baffour to issue identity cards to registered members in the municipality.

The ultimatum followed a question the Krontihene of Pomposo raised at the Obuasi municipal People's Assembly at Obuasi.

Nana Bonsra Mensah told the People's Assembly that he registered with the scheme a year ago but up till now he had not been issued with his identity card to enable him to access free medical care.

The Regional Minister, who was not happy about the situation, explained that the delays were not the making of the government but rather the scheme managers. "The excuses are too many and it is about time we find hard working scheme staff".

Mr Boafo said the scheme was useful as some had started accessing free medical care and advised the people who were still sitting on the fence not to politicise the scheme.

"The scheme should not be politicised since diseases do not know whether you are an NPP or NDC", he said.

The People's Assembly, which was organized on the theme: "Positive Change Chapter II, Accelerating Development, Deepening Good Governance", was attended by a cross section of the residents of the municipality. The Regional Minister outlined the number of development projects the government had undertaken, including roads construction, schools and the introduction of the capitation grant and school-feeding programme. "The development that is going on throughout the country is visible for everybody to see", Mr Boafo stressed.

The Regional Minister advised against the use of abusive language at such fora.

Mr Joseph K Boampong, Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive said as a result of the good policies of the Assembly, educational standards in the municipality were improving.

He said for example that the then Adansi West District placed fifth, first and first in the national Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Mr Boampong restated that the Assembly's curfew on children under 18 years from eight in the night was still in force. Nana Sarfo Agyeman III, Ahensanhene, who deputized for the acting Adansihene presided.