Ignore NPP �Over NHIS Biometric Registration Allegations-NDC Urges Ghanaians

THE EASTERN regional secretariat of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reacted angrily and dared the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to provide evidence of what they say are baseless allegations leveled against the party in the ongoing National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) biometric registration exercise or shut up. The eastern regional organizer of the NDC, Bismark Tawiah Boateng yesterday told the DAILY HERITAGE that the NPP must come out with names of individuals NDC functionaries are alleged to be registering to �rig� the 2016 election �and stop the speculative politics that is creating unnecessary fear and panic.� He urged Ghanaians to ignore the NPP because the NDC is not interested in derailing the purpose of the ongoing NHIS registration exercise to �rig� any election. At a press conference held by the eastern regional secretariat of the NPP on Wednesday, the party accused the NDC of faking the ages of minors to register and secure NHIS cards to be eventually used as proof to register in the upcoming electoral commission�s registration exercise to enable them "rig" the 2016 general election. The party hinted that it will soon secure a court injunction to be placed on the ongoing NHIS biometric registration exercise due to the political twist the exercise has allegedly taken. The NPP alleged that sources within National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) registration centers have revealed that "Some NDC functionaries including some MMDCE's are using the MMDA vehicles to convey people from villages to the registration centers some of who are below 18 years, but are being registered biometrically to obtain cards which bear age of 18 years to eventually be used as a proof in the impending voter registration exercise to be carried out by the Electoral Commission. �The National Health Insurance Authority and government are busily registering people biometrically; the swap machine that will serve as a verification mechanism to know the true owners of the cards have not been supplied to the health facilities and other service providers," thy further alleged. The NPP said the ill motive of the NDC on the NHIA biometric exercise has led to overcrowding in the registration centers. They suggested that government could have synchronized all the biometric registration in the country and given the mandated agency such as the National Identification Authority to carry out the registration exercise. Reacting to the allegations, Mr. Boateng called on the public to treat the allegations as" frivolous, misguided and opposition-fever-symptoms talk." He said the NDC government is focused on moving the country forward, raise the living standards of Ghanaians and ensure human centered developments which will merit the NDC being re-elected in 2016. He said the NDC has not and will not manipulate or rig any election in Ghana since it believes in total democracy.