Minority demands apology from Finance Minister over unfulfilled promise to uncap NHIS funding
The Minority caucus in Parliament is demanding an apology from the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, for the government’s supposed failure to fulfill its promise to uncap funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, March 4, the Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, Dr Ayew Afriye, accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of failing to deliver on its campaign pledge to remove the cap on NHIS funding.
He argued that the previous administration’s restrictions had negatively impacted the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Dr Afriye criticised the Finance Minister’s recent statement at the National Economic Dialogue, where he cited financial shortfalls and resource mismanagement within the NHIA as reasons for maintaining the cap. According to Dr Afriye, this is merely an excuse to justify the government’s inability to uphold its commitment.
“The NDC made the whole country believe that the NPP’s practice of capping NHIS funds was detrimental. They campaigned on the promise that all revenues would be made available to the NHIA. Now, in office, the Finance Minister finds it difficult to uncap the funds, so he claims there is misuse and a shortfall. That is not true,” Dr Afriye asserted.
He insisted that NHIS funds are statutory allocations approved by Parliament through a joint effort of both the Majority and Minority, making allegations of misuse unfounded.
“We have approved NHIS budgets in this Parliament for years without raising concerns about misuse. Why is it now an issue simply because he is the Finance Minister? He should admit that they cannot uncap the funds and apologise to Ghanaians,” he added.
According to him, the Minority expects the upcoming budget to allocate the full amount received in the health fund to the NHIA, emphasising that any deviation would be unacceptable.
