NHIA director denies victimization of unionized workers

The Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ametor Quarmyne has challenged unionized workers of the Authority alleging political victimization of some staff to come out and substantiate their allegations.

Members of the Union of Industry, Commerce and Finance (UNICOF) of the NHIA across the country have been passing resolutions demanding an immediate resolution of their key concerns.

The Eastern and Ashanti Regional branches of unionized workers who belong to UNICOF were the first two to pass the resolutions, in which they threatened to advice themselves if management failed to address grievances.

The General Secretary of UNICOF, Francis Kofi Davor in an interview with Citi News said the union members are concerned about perceptions of political victimization, the delay in negotiating their conditions of service and the over six months delay in reinstating the interdicted Local Union secretary, Kingsley Bobie.

However, reacting on the Citi News Mr. Ametor Quarmyne said the concerns are unfounded as all interested parties are engaging in dialogue over the matter.

“They are very unfortunate statements coming from somebody of Mr Davor’s calibre. I would like him to substantiate that persons belonging to a particular political persuasion are been victimized from being transferred from one place to another.

“Because I am not aware that someone applied for the scheme with a particular political persuasion or party card attached to his form”.

But in a sharp response, Mr Davor insisted the Authority must take seriously the concerns about victimization and salaries to forestall any major industrial unrest.

“I am sorry he cannot tell us anything about the fact that more than six months after someone was interdicted nothing has been done. But the LI law on interdiction makes it clear and he should know. Secondly I did mention that some steps are being taken to commence negotiations but workers are still apprehensive and suspicious about the fact that this thing is going to stay.

“I also did indicate in connection with the alleged victimization that these were issues that I had picked from a meeting that people were credited for primaries in their political parties and immediately they returned some steps had been taken.

“So there is a perception that people who belong to the other political parties are being victimized while there are people who are known to be staunch members of the ruling party and are allowed to go about their daily activities freely”.

Source: Citifmonline.com