Awutu-Kofi Ansah (C/R), Oct. 22, GNA - Chiefs in thirteen farming villages in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District of the Central Region have appealed to the Government to rehabilitate roads linking their communities to the Asamankese-Bawjiase and Agona Swedru-Bawjiase trunk roads.

They made the call when officials of the Awutu-Effutu- Senya District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (AESDMHIS) toured the area to sensitise them on the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The communities included, Awutu-Panim, Ayensuako, Osimpo Numbers One (No l) and Two (No 2), Kofi Ansah, Kofi Wottey, Pobikwaa, Tawiakwaa, Nyarkokwaa, Kojo Ashong, Akrabong, Chochoo, and Awutu-Ahintia. They stated that the bad nature of the roads was affecting socio-economic activities in the communities particularly the inhabitants of Kofi-Ansah, Nyarkokwaa and surrounding communities. Nana Kofi Ansah, Chief of Kofi-Ansahkrom and the Assemblyman for Nyarkokwaa/Tawiakwaa Electoral Area, Mr Benjamin Essel, also appealed to the Government to reconstruct bridges and culverts, which were destroyed by floods during the recent torrential rains.

At Ayensuako, Mr D. C. Tetteh, a member of the District Health Insurance Scheme's Board of Directors, advised chiefs and stool elders and assembly members in the district to embrace the scheme and to help in educating the public.

Mr Chris Oddoye, Scheme Manager for the District, appealed to the Chiefs not to register as an example for their subjects to follow. He explained that the introduction of the Scheme was to replace the old health delivery system known as the "Cash and Carry", with a more humane and affordable healthcare System.

The Scheme Manager said the photo-taking exercise had started and very soon officials from the district secretariat of the Scheme would approach those who had registered and paid up their premiums. Mr Oddoye also appealed to the Scheme Collectors and Registration Officers in the area to work harder to win more members and mobilise more revenue for the Scheme.

He assured the collectors that they would be paid commission for the premiums they had mobilised would soon to motivate them to perform better.

Other officers who educated the people were, Mr Joseph Yaw Owusu-Kwarteng, Public Relations Officer and Mr Nicholas Appiah - Kubi, Claims Manager.