Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has embarked on a four-day working tour across the Ashanti and Bono Regions. This initiative aims to enhance Dr. Bampoe’s insight into NHIS operations while strengthening relationships with staff and stakeholders at the grassroots level.
A key focus of the tour is to tackle persistent issues related to delayed payments to healthcare providers. Dr. Bampoe emphasized recent strides in addressing these arrears, stating, “We’ve released GHC 965 million to providers this year alone. This includes GHC 129 million and GHC 555 million disbursed following the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) uncapping.”
He attributed the timely disbursements to the repeal of the Capping and Earmarking Act, which has enabled the NHIA to access its complete funding. “President Mahama promised to uncap Act 947, and it has been done. Parliament repealed it, and the President has signed it,” he noted.
Dr. Bampoe also highlighted that, according to Section 52 of Act 852, NHIA funds must be disbursed within 30 days—a guideline that had previously been overlooked. “We now have firm assurance from the Ministry of Finance that releases will comply with the law,” he assured attendees.
The tour commenced on Monday, May 5, 2025, in Kumasi with a media briefing, followed by interactions with NHIA staff throughout the region. This visit marks the beginning of a nationwide effort to strengthen institutional partnerships and ensure effective implementation of health reforms.
His first stop was the NHIA’s Ashanti Regional Office and the Kumasi Claims Processing Centre (CPC), where he addressed a gathering of selected staff from the region. During his address, he encouraged open dialogue and invited staff to share their personal and institutional concerns. He also sought their assistance in addressing ongoing challenges, such as illegal charges by healthcare providers, commonly known as ‘co-payments’.
“I am here not as an armchair CEO, but as someone who believes in working closely with the teams on the ground. We can only improve the Scheme if we do this together,” he asserted.
Dr. Bampoe took the opportunity to outline the vision of the new NHIA leadership, which aligns with President John Mahama’s commitment to accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through initiatives like Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare. “Our vision includes a renewed focus on staff welfare—addressing issues such as promotions, access to healthcare, training, and financial support. We will provide the tools you need, but we ask for a renewed commitment in return,” he stated.
He commended the dedication of district teams that have met their annual targets and recognized their efforts. In response, staff pledged their loyalty and commitment to enhancing performance.
The visit also included an inspection of the ongoing CPC office construction project at Ridge, Kumasi. Dr. Bampoe outlined the NHIA’s new strategic direction, identifying three core pillars that will guide the executive management team.
“First, we are focused on strengthening internal controls and operational efficiency to ensure the long-term sustainability of the NHIS,” he explained. “By improving financial accountability, streamlining claims processing, and utilizing technology to reduce waste and prevent fraud, we can enhance the system’s robustness.”
The second pillar, he elaborated, focuses on restoring public confidence in the Scheme by addressing illegal out-of-pocket payments through tariff reforms, stronger enforcement, and improved provider relationships. “Timely reimbursements and stronger healthcare partnerships will ensure members receive their full benefits without undue financial burden,” he added, inviting staff to propose practical measures to support this initiative.
The third pillar, according to Dr. Bampoe, involves supporting the government’s UHC agenda. “As part of the government’s plan, the NHIA will back the Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare programmes to ensure healthcare is accessible and affordable for all,” he stated.
Speaking to both staff and the media, Dr. Bampoe underscored the strategic importance of the Ashanti Region in NHIS operations. “This region plays a critical role in our operations. It is the second most populous region, accounting for 17% of NHIS membership. It also has the highest number of district offices and credentialed health facilities—631 in total,” he remarked.
“As an indigene of this region, it’s essential for me to come here—not only to connect with the staff but also to implement the President’s vision on the ground. Ashanti must anchor our reform agenda,” he added.
Dr. Bampoe expressed gratitude to President Mahama for entrusting him with the significant responsibility of achieving universal health coverage. Addressing concerns over potential overlaps between Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare, he clarified that both initiatives are designed to complement the NHIS. “These policies complement the NHIS. While NHIS covers 95% of diseases, it falls short on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for 43% of deaths in Ghana,” he explained, revealing that Mahama Cares would focus on addressing these gaps.
“One major intervention will be the establishment of more dialysis centres across the country to ensure access to care for chronic conditions,” he noted. He further clarified that the Free Primary Healthcare policy guarantees basic healthcare services are accessible to all Ghanaians—regardless of NHIS membership. “This means that even those not enrolled in the Scheme can access primary healthcare services free of charge,” he stated.
Contrary to assumptions that Mahama Cares would depend solely on NHIA funding, Dr. Bampoe clarified that the initiative would be supported through a combination of government allocations, investments, and donations. “Funding sources will be diversified. At the launch on April 29, President Mahama pledged six months of his salary, while other officials and even private citizens made donations,” he disclosed. He emphasized that this funding model reflects a national commitment to investing in health and will be scaled up as the programme is implemented.
Dr. Bampoe and his delegation—which includes Acting Director of Claims, Dr. Abigail Cudjoe Derkyi-Kwarteng; Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Oswald Essuah Mensah; Head of Corporate Communications, Faustina Dery; and members of the NHIA communications team—will continue their tour on Tuesday, May 6, in the Bono East Region. They are expected to visit the NHIA Regional Office, pay a courtesy call on the Bono East Regional Minister at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), and engage with staff and management at the regional hospital.
The tour will proceed to the Bono Region on Wednesday, May 7, and conclude in Kumasi on Thursday, May 8, with a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister and additional engagements.
