Minority demands apology from Finance Minister over NHIS funding cap

The Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, Dr. Ayew Afriye, has called on the Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to render an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for the government’s supposed failure to fulfill its promise to uncap funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, during the National Economic Dialogue, disclosed that financial shortfalls and resource mismanagement within the NHIA are the reasons why the NDC government is maintaining the cap.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, March 4, Dr. Ayew Afriye, speaking on behalf of the minority caucus, accused the Finance Minister of backtracking on the NDC’s campaign promise to ensure that all revenues meant for the NHIA would be fully allocated.

“The whole world was made to understand that that concept or practice by the NPP government was inimical and the campaign by the NDC was that they would make all the revenues available to the NHIA.

“I think that having gone into office, the Minister of Finance sees that it is so difficult to uncap, which means it is so difficult to give all the resource envelopes from the Health Fund to the National Health Insurance Authority. The only way to go about it is to say that there is misuse of resources and also there’s a shortfall.” He stated

He further argued that the NHIA’s budget is a statutory allocation approved by Parliament, making it unlikely that misuse could have occurred without prior scrutiny.

“If he says misuse, I disagree with that. You know, Finance Minister is a very smart, young politician, intelligent, and I will not take his words for granted. I’m saying it is a statutory allocation and it is done here in parliament. Unlike the other state agencies that the Ministry of Finance would approve their budget, we approve NHIA funds, it is a joint effort of both the Majority and Minority

“So if there is misuse, we have sat here several years to approve their budget. We didn’t raise the issue over here. Why would you see misuse when you become Minister of Finance, when you were a leader of the minority then?” He quizzed.

Dr. Ayew Afriye insisted that Dr. Forson should take responsibility and admit that the government’s promise to uncap the fund was unrealistic. He further demanded that the upcoming budget include nothing less than the full allocation of what was received in the Health Fund to the NHIA, as expected by the public.

“I want the Finance Minister to accept and to admit, to apologize to the people of this country, that the promise that they made to uncap, they cannot uncap it, and in this budget, we are expecting nothing less than a full allocation of what was received in the health fund to the NHIA.” He stated.

Source: elvisanokyenews.net