According to GhanaWeb, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of evading accountability after previously committing to uncap the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Fund.
According to the Minority, recent statements made by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, which cite financial deficits and resource mismanagement as significant issues facing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), indicate a retreat from their earlier pledge.
The Minority contends that the current administration, which criticized the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for capping the NHIA Fund, is now failing to deliver on its promise to uncap it.
During a press conference on March 4, 2025, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, the Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, noted that if the NHIA is experiencing a shortfall, clarity is needed regarding the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) revenue, which is expected to reach about 11 billion.
He pointed out that during the NDC’s campaign, they vowed to uncap the NHIL, as outlined in their manifesto.
Dr. Afriye explained that the previous government had generated 8 billion but allocated only 6.4 billion to the NHIA, using a portion of the Health Fund for its budget.
He argued that the NDC campaigned against this practice, claiming it was detrimental, while promising to ensure all revenues would be available to the NHIA.
He expressed concern that the government, now in power, is realizing the difficulty of implementing their promise to uncap the NHIA Fund and is looking for excuses to backtrack.
He urged the government and the Finance Minister to acknowledge their failure to meet their commitments and to apologize to the public.
“I want the Finance Minister to accept and admit, and to apologize to the people of this country that the promise they made to uncap cannot be fulfilled. In this budget, we expect nothing less than a full allocation of what was received in the Health Fund to the NHIA,” Dr. Ayew said.Â
Additionally, he dismissed allegations of mismanagement from the previous administration, emphasizing that NHIA budget approvals have always involved bipartisan cooperation in Parliament, including Dr. Forson’s participation as a former Minority Leader.
Dr. Afriye pointed out that NHIA budget allocations are statutory and approved in Parliament, unlike other agencies controlled by the Ministry of Finance.
He questioned why concerns over misuse are being raised only now, after Dr. Forson has taken office, suggesting that this reflects a realization of the difficulties in fulfilling campaign promises.