The previous NPP government, led by former President John Agyekum Kufour, reinforced free basic education through the disbursement of capitation grants, with an initial amount of GHC 3.00 per pupil per academic year.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Y2HA930jgCMENHNIAkTimHhvj4fixmKa”]The amount was slightly increased to GHC 4.50 by the NDC government in 2009.

In light of what the current government called high cost of living in its maiden budget in March 2017, government  increased the capitation grant by 100 percent from GHC 4.50 per capita to GHC 9.00, and now the latest increase of Ghc10.00.

Gov’t absorbs 70 percent of 2017 BECE registration fees

Presenting the 2018 Budget before lawmakers on Wednesday, November 15, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, also indicated that, government had absorbed 70 percent of the 2017 BECE registration fees as subsidies for all registered candidates in public Junior High Schools.

“In 2018, government will absorb 100 percent BECE registration fees for registered candidates from only public Junior High Schools.”

BSTEM programme

In a bid to strengthen the foundational skills and generate interest in mathematics, science and technology, government intends introducing the Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) programme in all basic schools.

The programme will involve the delivery of BSTEM, and the establishment of 10 Regional BSTEM centers.

Free SHS programme 

Giving updates on the free SHS programme, the Minister revealed that, government had so far absorbed “all fees” approved by GES Council for 353,053 first year students.

“This is made up of 113, 622 Day students, and 239, 431 Boarding students. As part of the implementation of the programme, boarding students are being given three square meals, whilst day students enjoy one hot meal each day.

In addition, government supplied the full complement of core textbooks, supplementary readers and core English Literature books to all first year students.

Government also released subsidy for continuing in Senior High Schools, the Finance Minister stated.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post #Ghbudget: Capitation grant to increase in 2018 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The NHIA has said its board shall undertake a thorough review of the whole Capitation Payment Mechanism and processes and will inform the public of the way forward after the detailed review is completed.

The Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo, earlier in July 2017, announced government’s plans to suspend the programme in the region and discontinue its roll out across the country.

Dr. Adjetey Annag, the Head of Corporate Communications at the Authority, spoke to Citi News about the development and recounted that “some stakeholders in the Ashanti Region were of the opinion that the Ashanti Region was the only place where capitation was being implemented but NHIA scaled up capitation in the Upper East, Upper West and the Volta Region.”

According to him, capitation payments were on the verge of taking effect before this directive.

“In fact, a lot of preparatory work had been done. Registration onto preferred primary care providers had reached 98 percent and 100 percent in some cases which means everything was ready for capitation payments to those regions. That is the point we got and then the government directive came.”

About the capitation grant

Capitation is a provider payment mechanism in which providers in the payment system are paid in advance to provide a defined set of services for each individual enrolled with the provider for a fixed period of time. The amount paid to the provider is irrespective of whether that person would seek care or not during the designated period.

The amount paid to the provider is irrespective of whether that person would seek care or not during the designated period.

According to the NHIS, the fixed amount is typically expressed on a Per Member Per Month (PMPM) basis. Under this payment system, the member or subscriber selects a preferred primary provider (PPP) to provide all the services under the capitation basket in exchange for the capitation rate. The total capitation amount is transferred to the provider at the beginning of the service period. The amount is calculated based on the total number of members who have selected a given provider.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NHIA capitation programme suspended in Ashanti Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.