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Her Excellency
Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang has commended the National Health Insurance
Authority (NHIA) for the remarkable progress made in strengthening the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2025.
The commendation came during a courtesy
visit by some members of the NHIA Board and Executive Management, who formally
briefed her on key achievements recorded this year and reported on outcomes
from the just-ended NHIA High-Level Stakeholder Conference. Dr. Divine Ndonbi
Banyubala, a Board Member, led the team and set the tone for the meeting.
Representing the Vice
President at the NHIA stakeholder conference, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius
Debrah, received warm acknowledgment from stakeholders —an appreciation the
Vice President noted with satisfaction. Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, the Deputy Chief
Executive in charge of Operations, who represented the NHIA Chief Executive,
formally briefed her on key achievements recorded this year, upcoming reforms,
and the outcome of the stakeholder conference.
Her Excellency
expressed particular pride in the strong performance recorded in active
membership registration across the country, which recently crossed 20 million.
She encouraged the Authority to intensify public education and outreach efforts
to bring the uninsured population on board, with a special focus on
marginalized and hard-to-reach groups. She further emphasized the need for
sustained efforts in preventive healthcare as Ghana progresses towards
realizing the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) agenda.
Touching on
private-sector engagement, the Vice President encouraged Roche, a key sponsor
of the NHIA Stakeholder Conference, to build local capacity, specifically by
training Ghanaian health professionals.
Looking ahead, Her
Excellency indicated her willingness—subject to her schedule—to join the sector
minister in announcing the adjusted NHIS service tariff. Ahead of this, she
urged the NHIA to embark on extensive public education to create broad understanding
and support for the reforms, including the Authority’s ongoing efforts to
address illegal payments at health facilities.
Also in attendance was
Hon. Ofosu Ampofo, a Senior Aide to the Vice President, who underscored the
strategic importance of proactive public relations. He charged the NHIA to
“tell the NHIS story”—to communicate clearly how far the Scheme has come, the
gains achieved under recent reforms, and the positive impact on service
delivery and financial sustainability.
The NHIA leadership
expressed gratitude for her guidance and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing
a stronger, more equitable, and more sustainable NHIS for all Ghanaians. Others
in attendance were Professor Ernest York, and NHIA Board Member and President of
the Ghana Medical Association, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of
Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Raphael Segkpeb, Deputy Chief Executive
in charge of Finance and Investment, Ms. Anatu Seidu Bogobiri, Esq, and some
Directors at the NHIA.
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