By Prince Acquah
Cape Coast, May 09, GNA – The Central Regional office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has given assurance that it is on course to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the close of 2026.
It noted that 10 of the 14 health districts in the region had achieved UHC as of April 2026, and the Authority was ramping up efforts to carry the remaining districts along.
But the trajectory could hit a snag, it warned, lamenting a woeful deficit in staff strength, particularly in districts remote from the regional capital.
Speaking at the 2026 first quarter review meeting, Mr Kojo Sekyere Koi Thompson, the Acting Regional Director, indicated that between eight to 10 district offices lacked adequate staff at the ICT and Management Information System units.
He said the region had only 204 staff catering for 14 districts which were managing a population of 3,200,000 people, a situation that was affecting efficiency.
He said: “Many of them don’t want to go to the hinterlands. Unlike other regions, the region has only 14 regions managing more than 3 million people.
“We need more human resources to be at the hard-to-reach districts like Upper Denkyira, Twifo- Hemang-Lower- Denkyira, Breman- Asikuma, Assin-South, Assin-North, and Agona.”
For this year, the office has been tasked to capture 2,590,000 people in the Central Region, representing 80 per cent of the population.
From January to March, it could only achieve 13 per cent of a 20 per cent target.
But in April, there was a dramatic rise in the performance as it achieved 18.8 per cent of the annual target, with a firm resolve to go past 80 per cent mark.
“Our target was 215,000 but the region attained 265,000” Mr Thompson said, adding that, “ten districts overachieved and that gives a positive indication that the region will be able to clear the deficit in the subsequent months to achieve the Universal Health Coverage.”
He highlighted the role of NHIA in government’s Free Primary Health Care policy, expressing their commitment to fostering the policy in spite of their overwhelming challenges.
“That notwithstanding, we seek to commit the few resources that we have to able to achieve the target to promote the free primary health care.
“Because, we don’t want to have a day where Ghanaians will have to go to the hospital or seek for screening or preventive healthcare services and they have to pay for it,” he stressed.
The Ag Regional Director acknowledged some forms of support from the executive management including computers, production materials and the upgrade of some district offices.
However, he indicated that some other offices, including the Mfantseman, Assin-North and Breman- Asikuma continued to grapple with leaking office spaces under uncomfortable conditions.
Six districts, including Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa and Effutu, also worked with aged vehicles which broke down often, taking a toll on their operations and finances.
“The region is optimistic that with the new leadership, dedication, determination, motivation and needed resources, we will yield positive results,” he said.
Mr Stephen Yaw Oduro, Ag Deputy Director in charge of Special Projects, attributed the region’s performance to some special strategies adopted.
He said the regional management was constantly monitoring the districts and offering the needed support to managers who were struggling.
They were also collaborating with religious leaders to ramp up scheme membership in various churches.
“Motivation is also very critical and so we have directed scheme managers to motivate the staff with allowances,” Mr Oduro said.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Prince Acquah