The Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA) has cut sod for the construction of a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) office in Kpone to serve the municipality.
The project, which is expected to be completed within eight months, is to be constructed by Handosky International Limited.
Mr. Samuel Tetteh Kwarshie Morton, Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Chief Executive, noted that, since the creation of the municipality in 2012, the assembly has worked tirelessly to expand social infrastructure in the municipality, and the sod cutting is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to bringing services closer to the people.
Mr. Morton stated that NHIS remains one of the country’s greatest social interventions, ensuring that citizens from all walks of life have access to affordable healthcare, adding that the absence of a permanent, well-resourced office of the NHIS within the municipality has long posed challenges.
He added that when completed, residents would soon enjoy faster enrolment in the NHIS with improved customer care in a dignified environment.
He appreciated the Member of Parliament (MP), assembly members, traditional authorities and other stakeholders who, in diverse ways over the past years, organised free NHIS registration cards for the community members.
Mr. Morton further appreciated the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the government for prioritising the project and urged all to play their part to ensure timely completion of the project.
He also called on the contractor and consultants to employ people from the municipality to work on the project as a way of providing jobs for unemployed youth.

Mr. Joseph Akuertey Tettey, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kpone-Katamanso Constituency, noted that the government has consistently promised to strengthen the NHIS to ensure universal health coverage by focusing on financial protection and infrastructure.
Mr. Tettey said the traditional leaders and the assembly provided the land for the construction of the office after discussions were held on the need to have a municipal office of the NHIA to solve the problem of residents travelling to other districts to get insured.
He reiterated the call on the contractor to work within schedule and adhere to the required standard.
Mr. Osman Iddurisu Bampuori, the Operation Manager of the NHIA, Greater Accra, stated that the project stems from the relentless effort and support of the leadership of the municipality and the paramount chief of Kpone, Nii Tetteh Out II, to ensure that the NHIA achieved its mandate of providing access to healthcare for all.
Dr. Priscilla Esther Biamah Danquah, the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Health Director, noted that for many years, the people of Kpone Katamanso have faced challenges in accessing the full benefits of the scheme, with families travelling long distances to register or renew their cards and resolve issues.
Dr. Danquah mentioned that this challenge has caused a financial and time burden on the residents, discouraging others from enrolling in the scheme, adding that the absence of an office has created barriers to healthcare access, especially for the most vulnerable in the society.

She added that the office will not just bring essential health insurance services close to the people but also strengthen efforts towards achieving universal healthcare coverage, in which health financing plays a role.
“We look forward to seeing the office serve as a beacon of hope, improving enrolment, easing access and ensuring accountability in the delivery of health insurance services, and we pledge our full support to the NHIA as a municipal assembly to make this initiative a success and together build healthier and more inclusive health care services,” she noted.
Nii Tetteh Oglie II, the Chief of Mlitsakpo, representing the paramount chief of the Kpone Traditional Area, Nii Tetteh Otu II, acknowledged the importance of the project as it served as a steppingstone for more progress within the Kpone-Katamanso area.
Nii Oglie mentioned that the municipality was faced with a myriad of challenges and therefore appealed to the government to come to the aid of the municipality.
Mr. Theodore Edwards, the Managing Director of Handosky International Limited, gave the assurance that his outfit would do its best to complete the project on time and would not compromise its quality, as well as employ some workers within the area.