Gov’t to enrol all South Africa returnees onto NHIS

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured Ghanaian evacuees from South Africa of the government’s full support, including free access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and other essential services to aid their reintegration.

Addressing the second batch of 345 evacuees at the Accra International Airport on Saturday, June 6, the Minister said the government had put in place coordinated measures to ensure their safe arrival, screening, and welfare support.

According to him,  all Ghanaians arriving from South Africa under the evacuation exercise will be enrolled onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at no cost, as part of broader government support measures aimed at easing their reintegration and access to healthcare services.

“His Excellency the President has given instructions that we take your data. And so when you are giving your address, your contact, please give the right ones so we can trace you. And everybody arriving from South Africa through this intervention will be registered for free National Health Insurance,” he said 

He also encouraged the returnees to take advantage of available national interventions, stressing that health officials were on standby to provide necessary assistance upon arrival.

“This is your home, your relatives are around. You must freely take advantage of the various interventions we have as a country,” he added.

The 345 Ghanaians were evacuated from South Africa amid growing concerns over xenophobic attacks and hostility directed at foreign nationals. 

The arrival comes barely two weeks after the first batch of approximately 300 evacuees landed in Ghana on Wednesday, May 27.  

According to officials, more than 1,500 Ghanaians eventually signed up for repatriation, reflecting the growing anxiety among members of the Ghanaian community in South Africa amid reports of attacks, intimidation, and destruction of property.