In a sharp rebuttal to recent narratives regarding the state of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Minority Caucus in Parliament has asserted that the previous
administration left the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in a robust financial position.
Addressing the media at Parliament House on Tuesday, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on the Health Committee, stated that the current government inherited a GH¢1 billion positive balance and absolutely no outstanding debt when they assumed office in early 2025.
1. The "Surplus" Argument: Settling Initial Claims
Dr. Afriyie challenged claims of a "distressed" inheritance, providing a specific breakdown of how the inherited funds were utilized during the transition.
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The Balance: A positive cash position of GH¢1 billion.
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Utilization: These funds were allegedly used to settle health provider claims for the four-month transition window covering November, December (2024), and January, February (2025).
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The Claim: The Ranking Member emphasized that this surplus provided the current management with the necessary "liquidity cushion" to ensure the scheme did not stall during the transition of power.
2. Clearing the 2021–2023 Arrears
Responding to concerns about historical debts, Dr. Afriyie explained that the significant debt of GH¢2.4 billion—which had accumulated between 2021 and 2023—was systematically eliminated before the change in government.
The Three-Tranche Settlement:
According to the Minority, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department released the funds in three equal installments to clear the books:
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Tranche 1: GH¢800 Million
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Tranche 2: GH¢800 Million
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Tranche 3: GH¢800 Million
"The current NHIA management did not inherit any debt... This is not anything done in secret. Let us put a stop to the over-politicisation of health insurance issues." — Dr. Ayew Afriyie
3. Comparative NHIS Financial Health (2024 vs 2025)
| Financial Metric | Status at Handover (Dec 2024) | Current Status (Mar 2026) |
| Opening Balance | GH¢1 Billion (Surplus) | Under Review |
| Accumulated Debt | Zero (Reportedly cleared) | Subject to ongoing audit |
| Payment Frequency | 4 months settled at start | Providers calling for faster release |
4. Policy Call: De-politicizing Healthcare
Dr. Afriyie’s statement is seen as a "pre-emptive strike" against the Auditor-General’s Report on Arrears presented earlier this week, which suggested widespread financial irregularities across various sectors. By insisting that the NHIS was "debt-free," the Minority is drawing a clear line between the health scheme and other sectors like the 1D1F initiative, which the audit flagged for fictitious debts.
The Bottom Line
The debate over the NHIS remains a central pillar of the 2026 political discourse. While the Minority insists they handed over a "clean sheet" and a GH¢1 billion surplus, the current administration’s ongoing audit of arrears (assisted by EY and PwC) will be the ultimate arbiter of the scheme's true financial standing.
