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Central Gonja NHIS demonstration is politically motivated -
DCE
Buipe, (N/R), March 16, Ghanadot/GNA- Mr.
Zakaria Yakubu, Central Gonja District Chief Executive has
stated that the recent demonstration against the
administration of the Central Gonja District Health Mutual
Insurance Scheme (CGDMHIS) and the Scheme Manager was
politically motivated.
He said the demonstration was irrelevant and uncalled for
adding: "It was only an orchestration to malign the Scheme
Manager to achieve selfish interest. What was also evident
about the demonstration was that it had political
undertones".
"It was calculated to make the government's policy on Health
Insurance Scheme unpopular", Mr. Yakubu said.
The DCE was addressing a press conference jointly organised
by the Central Gonja District Assembly and the Board of
Directors of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme at
Buipe on Tuesday.
The press conference was in reaction to a recent
demonstration at Buipe, the district capital, and certain
allegations levelled against the implementation of the MHIS
and the Scheme Manager Mr. Dauda Mahama a group calling
itself, "Concerned Youth of Central Gonja District".
The media carried reports on the demonstration and the
presentation of a petition to the DCE by the Chairman of the
group, Mr. Kuipo Harrison.
The petition, among other things, accused the Scheme Manager
of "gross incompetence, abuse of office and lack of decorum
to hold such an important position."
It also accused him of consistently side-lining the interim
management board in decision making, as well as
disrespecting and fighting both clients and the workers,
especially the accountant.
Mr. Yakubu described the allegations as "baseless" and
explained that most of them were made out of ignorance since
the MHIS was working with a plan, budget, goals and
objectives, which were all put in place before the district
acquired a certificate from the Registrar General's
Department.
He stated that, it was untrue that the Scheme Manager had
sidelined the Interim Board of Directors in both
decision-making and procurement saying: "We want to make our
stance clear here that the Scheme Manager and the Board of
Directors are in good working relationship".
"We are in tune with the Manager because by the structure of
the Board of Directors of every Scheme, the manager is the
secretary to the Board...".
On complaints by clients about the delay in issuance of
identity cards and processing of claims, the DCE explained
that these were not peculiar to the Central Gonja District
alone.
Mr. Yakubu said so far, the district had performed
creditably and mentioned that the scheme had registered
10,245 clients, issued 8,744 identity cards, while 1,501
cards were being processed.
The scheme, he said, had also paid total claims of GHc
5,463,945.00 and collected premiums amounting to GHc
21,583.00 as at March 2008.
On the alleged misuse of the scheme's vehicle, the Board
explained that there was a policy document, which was
explicit on its usage, adding that, to the best of its
knowledge, the vehicle was being used judiciously.
"The Board and the District Assembly also wish to state that
the Scheme Manger is not accountable to any individual or
group of persons in this district. He is only accountable to
the Board of Directors of the Scheme".
Mr. Yakubu noted with concern the threat by the group to the
effect that he had been given a two-month ultimatum to
dismiss the Scheme Manager.
He said since this could only lead to a breach of the
fragile peace prevailing in the district, the matter had
been referred to the District Security Committee (DISEC) for
appropriate action to be taken as soon as possible.
Mr. Yakubu advised the leadership of the group "to channel
their efforts towards the development of the infant district
instead of intimidating people with unfounded allegations".
GNA
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