President Mahama sacks and replaces NHIA board member amid qualification questions

President John Mahama has revoked the appointment of Anne Sansa Daly as a member of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Board, effective immediately. In her place, he has nominated Professor Dr. (Med) Ernest Yorke, a respected medical professional, to join the board.

The announcement was made in a statement from the Office of the President, dated May 23, 2025, and signed by Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama.

“Kindly take the necessary steps to facilitate the swearing-in of Prof. Dr. (Med) Ernest Yorke accordingly,” the statement read.

“Please accept the assurances of the highest consideration of His Excellency, the President of the Republic,” Dr. Callistus Mahama added.

While the official reason for Daly’s removal was not given, questions have recently been raised about her qualifications. Some critics claim she does not hold a valid medical license to practice in Ghana.

President Mahama’s nominee, Prof. Ernest Yorke, is a seasoned medical expert who previously served as the Greater Accra Regional Chair of the Ghana Medical Association. His nomination has been widely welcomed, with many praising his experience and deep understanding of the health sector.

One of those supporting the President’s decision is Ben Dotsei Malor, a former Deputy Editor at the BBC. He called for a full investigation into Daly’s background and academic claims.

“Good decision … A serious and urgent probe is needed to check if this person really qualified as a medical doctor from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Medical School and graduated with a solid GPA of 4.0. It would be a daring claim, a serious act of pretension, and a high crime for anyone to claim to be a medical doctor when they are not,” Malor wrote in a Facebook post.

The NHIA Board plays a key role in overseeing Ghana’s health insurance policies. With Prof. Yorke stepping in, attention now turns to whether further scrutiny will be applied to board appointments moving forward.