The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate arrest of individuals responsible for the unlawful closure of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) office at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, condemned the action during a press conference, describing it as a direct attack on public order and an unacceptable disruption of essential healthcare services.
The incident occurred after some aggrieved supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stormed and locked up the district NHIA office in protest against the appointment of Alex Nimako, former Public Relations Officer for the NHIA at Effiduase, as the new Manager for the Ejisu-Juaben office.
The protesters claimed their action was driven by the alleged neglect of party loyalists in government appointments. According to them, individuals who worked hard for the party during the 2024 elections have been sidelined in favour of others.
However, Dr. Ayew Afriyie said such actions were inappropriate and could not be justified as a means of seeking employment from one’s own government. He stressed that no political grievance should result in the closure of a public health institution.
The Effiduase/Asokore Member of Parliament further claimed that similar incidents had occurred since the NDC assumed power, citing the closure of NHIA offices in Kadjebi, Bosomtwe and Tema Central.
“This is not the first time such an incident has occurred since the NDC government came to power. If you recall, in September last year, their supporters stormed the NHIA office at Kadjebi in the Oti Region, beat up staff and chased them out of the office,” he said.
He added that similar protests were reported at the NHIA offices in Tema Central and Bosomtwe this year over the appointment of individuals perceived to be non-indigenes or non-NDC members as managers.
Dr. Ayew Afriyie expressed concern over what he described as continued attacks on management and staff of public health institutions.
According to him, the Ejisu NHIA Manager was fortunate not to have been present when the protesters stormed the premises, otherwise the situation could have turned more serious given the level of vandalism.
“Supporters of the ruling NDC stormed the Ejisu NHIA office today, heading straight to the Manager’s office and vandalising it to gain access. Imagine what could have happened if he had been there,” he said while addressing the press at the forecourt of the locked office.
Dr. Ayew Afriyie called for an end to what he described as violent protests and urged authorities to address the concerns through peaceful and lawful means.
“This is getting out of hand, so I’m sorry to use this phrase, but I must say strongly that ‘this nonsense protest must stop’ because under President Mahama, law and order seem broken,” he added.
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