The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has interdicted two of its staff and has issued an unqualified apology for the assault on Adom FM’s editor and two reporters.
The Ablekuma District Manager of the Health Insurance Scheme Mr. Israel Kwame Laryeah, and the district Public Relations Officer have been issued with letters to stay at home until the authority completes its own inquiry.
Adom FM’s News Editor, Afia Pokua and her reporters were assaulted by some staff of the scheme at the district office of the NHIS last Thursday.
Afia and her colleagues were subjected to physical assault by some officers.
She sustained bruises on several parts of the body including the left eye. Afia Pokua had gone to the office to retrieve a recorder seized from a reporter she had sent on assignment.
Chief Executive of the NHIA, Sylvester Mensah says the authority takes a serious view of the incident.
“As we speak now it is all hearsay….it is one’s word against the other. We just want these people to step aside for as to effectively investigate the matter…we need to set an example if indeed the officers have been on the wrong side of the law”, the CEO told Joy News.
He apologized on behalf of the Authority and asked for some time to investigate what occurred.
The NHIA internal enquiry is scheduled to last 10 days. A formal announcement will be made at the end of the inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Kaneshie Police has also begun investigating the matter.
