For years, residents of Aniisi and surrounding communities in the Binduri District have relied on the Aniisi CHPS Compound as their primary source of healthcare. Serving as a major facility for four Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) zones within the Kukparugu/Aniisi sub-district, the health facility plays a critical role in delivering essential medical services to thousands of people, most of whom are subsistence farmers.
However, an investigation by journalist Ibrahim Abode has uncovered a troubling situation that has left the facility struggling to function effectively. Health officials say National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) reimbursement funds meant for the facility were diverted to an unknown account, depriving the centre of resources needed to provide healthcare services.
A LIFELINE FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES
Aniisi CHPS serves patients from the Aniisi area whose capacities are limited to basic healthcare services. Cases requiring more advanced treatment are referred to the health centre.
The communities served by the facility are predominantly agricultural settlements where residents frequently battle diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, respiratory infections, and other seasonal illnesses associated with farming activities.
Yet despite its strategic importance, the facility has reportedly been operating under severe financial constraints for nearly a decade.
THE STRUGGLE TO DELIVER HEALTHCARE
According to health officials, the diversion of NHIS claims payments has left the facility virtually bankrupt, making it difficult to procure medicines, medical supplies, and other essential logistics.
The Officer-in-Charge of the facility, Akaama Lucas, explained that the financial difficulties have affected every aspect of healthcare delivery.
“The Regional Medical Stores have stopped supplying us with drugs because we are unable to settle our debts. We are challenged to the extent that we cannot even properly monitor patients suffering from chronic diseases,” he said.
As a result, many patients who visit the facility receive consultations but are subsequently directed to purchase prescribed medicines from nearby chemical shops.
Health workers say the situation is particularly worrying for patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, who require regular monitoring and consistent medication. Instead of receiving integrated care at one facility, patients are forced to seek medicines and treatment from different locations, making continuity of care difficult.
Medical staff also report shortages of both consumable and non-consumable supplies needed for routine healthcare delivery.
DISTRICT HEALTH DIRECTORATE CONFIRMS CHALLENGE
The Binduri District Health Directorate has confirmed the existence of the problem.
The District Director of Health Services, Awini Issaka, said efforts to trace and recover the diverted funds have so far yielded no results.
“I am aware that the National Health Insurance funds for the facility have been diverted to another account. We have made several attempts to rectify the situation but have not succeeded. Recently, I even contacted the Member of Parliament for the area to assist in addressing the matter with the National Health Insurance Authority,” he stated.
His comments suggest that local health authorities have been battling the issue for years without a definitive resolution.
NHIA ACKNOWLEDGES THE MATTER
Responding to the concerns, the Upper East Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Salifu Kombat, acknowledged being briefed on the issue after assuming office.
He indicated that the Authority is aware of the challenge and has advised the Binduri District Health Management Team on the procedures required to correct the anomaly.
However, no timeline has yet been provided regarding when the matter will be fully resolved or whether the diverted funds can be recovered.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED?
According to information gathered during the investigation, the diversion reportedly began in 2016 and continued until 2026, spanning approximately ten years.
Throughout this period, NHIS reimbursements meant for the Aniisi Health Centre were allegedly paid into an account different from that of the facility.
While comprehensive figures covering the entire period are not yet available, records reviewed by this reporter indicate that the facility received NHIS claims amounting to approximately GH¢19,128.70 in 2019 alone.
Given that reimbursements were reportedly diverted over a decade, health officials believe the total amount involved could be substantial. The absence of a full reconciliation of claims from 2016 to 2026 makes it difficult to determine the exact financial loss suffered by the facility.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
The situation raises serious concerns about accountability and financial management within Ghana’s healthcare financing system.
The National Health Insurance Scheme remains a major source of revenue for many public health facilities, particularly health centres and CHPS compounds in rural communities. These facilities depend on NHIS reimbursements to procure medicines, maintain equipment, and support day-to-day operations.
Without regular reimbursement payments, healthcare providers face severe operational challenges that directly affect patient care.
For Aniisi CHPS, the consequences have been evident: shortages of medicines, disruption of chronic disease management, mounting debts to suppliers, and reduced healthcare access for vulnerable rural populations.
ABOUT BINDURI DISTRICT
Binduri District is one of the fifteen districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Created in 2012 from the former Bawku Municipal area, the district has a predominantly rural population and an economy heavily dependent on agriculture.
The district’s health system consists of health centres, clinics, and numerous CHPS compounds spread across several sub-districts, including the Aniisi/Kukparugu sub-district. Healthcare delivery in these communities relies significantly on primary healthcare facilities due to the long distances many residents travel to access higher-level medical services.
THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
As health authorities continue efforts to resolve the anomaly, residents and healthcare workers are calling for a thorough investigation into how NHIS funds intended for a public health facility could allegedly be redirected for such an extended period without detection.
The case also raises broader questions about financial oversight mechanisms within Ghana’s health financing architecture and whether similar occurrences may be affecting other facilities across the country.
For the people of Aniisi and surrounding communities, however, the immediate concern remains access to quality healthcare.
Until the matter is fully resolved and the facility’s financial capacity restored, healthcare workers fear that rural residents will continue to bear the burden of a problem they neither created nor can control.
Story by Ibrahim Abode
One Response
All stakeholders must be involved to solve this disburbing issue at hand. The Minister of Health , the Minister of Finance, IT Technicians and the president should please open their eyes to to solve the problem and bring all the scammers to book.