The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced a major nationwide intervention allowing Ghanaians to register or renew their National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) membership free of charge, with immediate access to healthcare services.
The initiative, dubbed the “STORM initiative,” was unveiled at a press conference in Accra by the NHIA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe.
The programme will run from April 15 to May 31, 2026.
“I am pleased to officially announce the launch of what we at NHIA are calling the STORM initiative,” Dr. Bampoe said. “It’s a nationwide high-impact programme to bring free NHIA registration and renewal directly to communities across Ghana.”
He explained that NHIA staff will be deployed nationwide to expand registration and renewals at the community level.
“STORM will see our staff at all levels storm communities, markets, churches, mosques, lorry stations, and workplaces to create mass awareness and support every Ghanaian to take advantage of this opportunity,” he added.
Dr. Bampoe described the intervention as unprecedented in the history of the scheme.
“This is a landmark moment in Ghana’s health history. It has never happened before,” he stressed.
According to him, while the NHIA has previously waived waiting periods during special campaigns, the current initiative goes further.
“For the very first time, we are simultaneously waiving both the registration and renewal fees and the one-month waiting period,” he said. “This has never happened before.”
Under the initiative, Ghanaians will benefit from:
* Free first-time NHIS registration
* Free renewals, including lapsed memberships
* Immediate access to healthcare services without waiting periods
Dr. Bampoe said the policy aligns with government’s broader health reforms, particularly the Free Primary Health Care programme launched by the President on April 15.
“This STORM initiative is not happening in a vacuum,” he said. “It is tied to one of the most transformative health policies the country has seen in years.”
The NHIA says the initiative is aimed at expanding coverage and ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind in accessing essential healthcare.
By Enyonam Haligah
