President John Dramani Mahama has officially removed Anne Sansa Daly from the Board of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) due to concerns surrounding her medical credentials, particularly the absence of a valid license to practice in Ghana.
A statement issued by the Office of the President confirmed Daly’s dismissal and announced the immediate nomination of Prof. Dr. (Med) Ernest Yorke as her replacement. Authorities have been directed to expedite his swearing-in.
Although the official communication did not detail the reasons behind Daly’s removal, insiders report that mounting criticism from health professionals and the public over her unlicensed status played a decisive role.
Many questioned her suitability for a position on the NHIA Board, given its crucial role in steering the country’s health insurance policies and operations.
Despite the lack of official explanation, Daly’s dismissal has generated speculation, particularly on social media, where users have raised questions over her eligibility to serve on the board. Concerns have centred on her status as a medical doctor and her reported lack of a valid licence to practise medicine in Ghana.
Daly, along with another board member Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings (MP), was not seen in photographs of the swearing-in ceremony, and it remains unclear whether her name had been officially removed from the list by the time of publication.
The newly constituted NHIA Board, chaired by Mr Lawrence Nii Okantey Adjetey, includes representatives from key government institutions and professional bodies. Members include Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams (Ministry of Health), Dr Alhassan Iddrisu (Ministry of Finance), Francisca Atuluk (Department of Social Welfare), Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea (Ghana Health Service), Dr Abiba Zakariah (National Insurance Commission), and Dr Bernadette Naa Hoffman (SSNIT).
Also on the board are Dr Sadat Bawa (medical and dental profession), Dr David Tetteh (pharmacy), Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, MP (accountancy or finance), and Dr Divine Ndonbi Banyubala (legal expertise).
Organised labour is represented by Dr Ken Kwaku Tweneboah Koduah, while the NHIA is represented by its Chief Executive, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe. Pious Kwame Nkuah, MP and Daniella Mavis Abena Mathias also serve as NHIA representatives. Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP, is likewise listed as a board member.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh highlighted the strategic importance of the NHIA Board in delivering equitable and sustainable healthcare services. He described the board’s work as a national calling, urging its members to demonstrate professionalism, sacrifice and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
The Minister also noted ongoing reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the NHIA, including the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Fund and the timely release of resources. He urged the board to align its operations with key government priorities, particularly the Free Primary Healthcare policy.
