The Minority in Parliament has dismissed claims by the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, that the government has paid GH¢2.6 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2025 to clear outstanding claims and debts owed to health service providers.
The Minister made the assertions in a question posed by Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin in Parliament on Monday, March 9.
But in a sharp rebuttal, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Ayew Afriyie says the claims cannot be true as the NHIS in its own report says the previous administration left a positive balance of GHC1 billion for its inheritance.
He said government must stop over politicisation national health insurance issues.
According to him, from 2021 to 2023, the NHIA had a debt of GHC2.4 billion which was paid in three tranches of GHC800 million each before the previous NPP government exited office.
“The NHIA management did not inherit any debt from the previous management. For 2021, 2022 and 2023, there was a debt of GHC2.4 billion. That GHC2.4 billion was paid in three parts; GHC800 million in three batches by the then Controller General.
“Let us put a stop to over politicization of NHIA issues. How will they leave you a positive balance of GHC1 million that you use to pay claims for November, December, January and February,” he stated.
He continued that the Minority in Parliament is prepared to dismiss false claims by government concerning issues related to the NHIA.
“We will come here on any day to let Ghanaians know that the previous NPP left NHIA with a positive balance, it is not even happened before and they used it to pay claims for November, December, January and February.”
