The former Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Sylvester Mensah (SM) has stated in no uncertain terms that his integrity, reputation and dignity at handling public office are intact and without blemish.

Explaining the incident that led to his interrogation at the state investigative body, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on January first 2016, to the USA branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the former NHIA boss said "as far as I am concerned, it was a legitimate investigation which the then government undertook.

"There was a whistle blower who thought there was something wrong somewhere and government took it up to investigate. After public investigations were conducted, what is important is that investigation ended and it came to light that there were no adverse findings." This he claimed are documented first by a court order de-freezing my account and later by a letter from government confirming no adverse findings.

SM believed that some faceless people within government who were not comfortable with his soaring popularity conspired in an awkward attempt to clip his wings or better still shred his popularity.

The former NHIA boss who was the special guest of honour spoke alongside with the NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah also known as general Mosquito and the director of international relations Mr. Kofi Attoh in Virginia at the NDC USA chapter's forum on a wide range of issues including the need for a new leader, a new voice, a new vision, new relationships and a new strategy for the party moving into the 2020 elections.

He stated that though the corruption charges levelled against him brought him pain and so much difficulties, he is happy today that he is one of the very few people within the last NDC government and party who had gone through the scrutiny of investigations and has come out unscathed.

"There is a reputation that had been polished, it tells the whole world that there is a gentleman who is diligent and who handled public service with dignity and propriety. I can say that I am one of the few with a clean bill of health as far as consistency to our party's core values is concerned," Sylvester Mensah stated.

It would be recalled that a loud public noise, very unusual, heralded a BNI investigation of the NHIA. Accra high court ordered the release of all accounts belonging to the former NHIA boss after the BNI had testified that there had been no adverse findings.

According to Sylvester, he is not moved by the actions and inactions of his detractors who are trying all conspiracy theories to dent his credibility or cast doubts about his reputation, because of his genuine intentions to contest the NDC primaries.

There is a fire burning in my belly to lead the NDC into the 2020 elections. We have to do things differently to ensure we record positive results, he noted.

Sharing his views on the current allegations of corruption, Sylvester Mensah doubted the stories making the rounds in the print and social media but was quick to remark that apart from issues bordering on management judgement, he has no sympathy for those who consciously or knowingly cause financial loss to the state or entertain corruption in public office.