The newly promoted clubs into the 2022/23 Betpawa Ghana Premier League have secured a partnership agreement with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The clubs, Akim Kotoko Royals, Nsoatreman FC, Samartex, and Tamale City FC signed a five-year agreement to allow a minimum of 10,000 people including players, officials, management, and fans get registered onto the insurance scheme.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the NHIA headquarters, Accra, Wednesday, August 31, 2022, between the Authority and representatives of the four teams led by Paul Anyaba (Samartex Business Development Manager), and Linford Boadu Asamoah (Chief Executive Officer of Akim Kotoku Royals.
As part of the deal, the NHIS logo will be emboldened on the jerseys of all four clubs whiles the Authority also provides medical services on match days.
Chief Executive of the NHIA, Dr. Okoe Boye, said the move was the “wisest thing to do” to get individuals on board to register since almost half of Ghanaians are without any form of health insurance, describing it as “a national security threat.”
Briefing the gathering he noted that the “partnership is to help us increase the NHIS active membership to over 18 million to secure more support from development partners. We will support the teams to have access to medical consultants.
“NHIA is committed to working hard to ensure that every Ghanaian has medical insurance cover. We have a duty to make sure that every Ghanaian knows about the NHIS,” stressed, the former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku.
The former Deputy Health Minister added that his outfit will do whatever it can to invest to drive up the numbers on their scheme because majority of the general public struggles to afford medical bills in most cases.
“The sad thing is that half of Ghana’s population are not medically insured not because they cannot afford but sometimes, they don’t care. This is the biggest human security threat,” he added.
Representatives of the four teams made of Paul Anyaba (Samartex Business Development Manager), Linford Boadu Asamoah (Chief Executive Officer of Akim Kotoku Royals) as well as Nsoatreman FC and Tamale City were present at the event.
Akim Kotoko Royals, Nsoatreman FC, Samartex, and Tamale City FC commended the NHIA for the opportunity offered them and expressed their readiness to ensure the partnership is successful.
The 2022-2023 betPawa Ghana Premier League Season commences on September 9.
The Akim Kotoku Royals kick off their campaign at home to Accra Lions. Tamale City will also travel to Nzema to face Karela United.
Samartex FC and Nsoatreman FC play Real Tamale United and Kumasi Asante Kotoko respectively on the same matchday.
