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Encourage communities to enroll on NHIS – Oko Boye urges traditional leaders
Dr. Oko Boye having a discussion with community members
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye has called on traditional authorities to encourage their community members to enroll onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as it has been expanded to cater for more health conditions.
He said the NHIS was the surest means of accessing quality and affordable healthcare services and hence implored Ghanaians, both home and abroad to enroll onto the scheme.
The CEO made this known when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Waala Traditional Area at Wa in the Upper West Region on Thursday.
The visit formed part of a three-day working visit to the Region to interact with staff of the NHIA, acquaint himself with some of their operational challenges as well as challenges faced by the scheme and to inspect ongoing NHIS projects in the region.
He was accompanied by some members of the board of Directors of the NHIA as well as management and some staff of the Authority.
Dr Okoe-Boye said even though the scheme was faced with some form of challenges, management was working hard to find lasting solution the problems.
‘’It is very important for every Ghanaian to hold an NHIS card in order to enable them access affordable healthcare services as citizens, it is your rights and you must take the opportunity’’, he said.
He mentioned that the NHIS had come a long way from the old method of registration and renewal to the current use of technology by citizens to enroll and renew their membership at the comfort of their homes
Government, he stated would continue to invest in the scheme to enable every Ghanaian take good care of their health, adding that the NHIS had not shown any sign of collapsing.
He assured of his outfit’s commitment to providing the needed support to ensure that ongoing construction of district NHIA offices were completed before the end of the year.
The Paramount Chief, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo commended the delegation for the tour in the region and used the opportunity to appeal to the CEO and the management of the scheme to fast-track work on the construction of the ongoing NHIA district offices in the region.
Highlighting some of the challenges confronting the Scheme in the region, the Chief said the offices lacked adequate staff and infrastructure and was hopeful that these challenges would be addressed as a matter of urgency.
He encouraged the public, particularly residents of Wa to take advantage of the NHIS to get them selves covered to avoid medical emergencies in future.
Accompanied by his team, the CEO inspected ongoing projects of the Authority at Issa in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District and Lawra in the Lawra Municipality which would serve as offices for the Scheme in the two areas.
From Rafia Abdul Razak,WA
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
