By: Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commissioned four fibre boats to serve communities along the Volta Lake, a move aimed at improving healthcare delivery in hard-to-reach areas.
The boats, unveiled at a ceremony in Akosombo, will be used by NHIA staff, Ghana Health Service personnel, and allied health workers to reach communities in the Volta, Eastern, Oti, and Bono East regions.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiary districts include Sene East and West, Pru, Asuogyaman, Kwahu Afram Plains North and South.
The rest are North and South Dayi, North and Central Tongu, Kpando, Biakoye, Krachi West, Dambai and Krachi Nchumuru.
Speaking at the commissioning, NHIA Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe paid tribute to staff who have long risked their lives crossing rivers in fragile canoes powered by unreliable motors.
“These were not just logistical challenges. They were real threats to human lives,” he said.
“As the backbone and frontliners of the National Health Insurance Scheme, it is our moral and institutional responsibility to ensure that staff are protected, equipped, and empowered to carry out their duties safely and effectively.”
Dr. Bampoe emphasized that the boats symbolize more than transport. “These boats are not just assets. They represent safety, reliability, and dignity. They will significantly reduce the risks our staff face and enhance their ability to reach island communities and other hard-to-reach areas,” he noted.
Broader perspective
The initiative aligns with his three-point vision for the NHIA: strengthening operational efficiency and staff welfare, building trust in the National Health Insurance Scheme, and expanding access in line with the government’s commitment to Universal Health Care.
He added that the boats are a critical enabler of the President’s Free Primary Health Care policy.
“They will allow us to reach populations that are often the last to be served but who stand to benefit the most: fishermen in inland communities, mothers and children in remote settlements, and vulnerable households that have historically struggled to access basic healthcare,” Dr. Bampoe explained.
Dr. Bampoe also acknowledged the contributions of past NHIA leadership who laid the foundation.
“This achievement is not in isolation; it is part of continuous leadership and institutional progress that has brought us to this moment,” he said.
Caution
Akosombohene Nana Boafo Ansah Prem IV, who chaired the event, cautioned communities against misusing the boats.
“These boats must not be used for ferrying passengers or carting goods. They are meant for healthcare delivery, and inappropriate use will lead to their deterioration and defeat their purpose,” he warned.
He commended the NHIA for providing staff and health workers with safer, more reliable transportation.
The ceremony was attended by senior NHIA officials, including Deputy Chief Executive for Human Resource and Administration, Mr. Raphael Segkpeb; Director of Membership and Regional Operations, Mr. Sebastien Alagpulinsa; Executive Assistant to the CEO, Ms. Nina Amoah-Buabeng; Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Oswald Essuah-Mensah; Director of Administration, Mr. Raymond Avinu; and Head of Communication, Ms. Faustina Dery.
