The Deputy Health Minister, Rojo Mettle Nunoo, has rejected criticisms that he erred in his presentation to Parliament on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He told Parliament Wednesday that implementing the NDC’s campaign promise of a onetime premium will be too expensive, costing as much as GH¢678 per adult.

His boss Dr. Benjamin Kumbour subsequently described his pronouncements as misleading because government has not taken any such position.

But Rojo Mettle Nunoo insists he did nothing wrong.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Thursday, Mr Nunoo said he informed Parliament the presentation was just one of several options available to government.

“I did not err. I answered the substantive question and because the subject was in the public interest the speaker allowed more than the normal four or five questions. So I believe that I must have answered off-the-cuff, may be, about nine supplementary questions,” he said.

Asked whether he concocted the figures he gave out on the floor of the House, Mr Nunoo said: “I did not concoct the figures. The figures related to scenarios of possible things that we are considering,” adding, he explained to Parliament it was only a scenario.

The Deputy Health Minister rejected the suggestion that he had taken his latest position because of the backlash from what transpired in Parliament on Wednesday.

Mr Nunoo said the issue of onetime payment must be debated even more to ensure all stakeholders make their input.

The deputy minister played down comments that his reputation is on the line following suggestion by Dr Kumbour that his deputy’s statement were misleading.
“If it’s misleading, it’s because the other political side in Parliament simply took the position that Yewoo, ‘to wit we are are dying’ instead of debating the issue.”

Story by Elvis Adejetey and Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

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