New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament of Dome-Kwabenya constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has refuted suggestions that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) gave her a sponsorship of $8,500 to enable her go on a Women and Power Executive training programme at the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States (US).

In a press release, the deputy majority leader admitted submitting a proposal for seeking sponsorship from the NHIA but withdraw the request after parliament decided to foot all the bill.

He comments comes after media reports surfaced in the wake of demands by the NHIA for increases in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) levies, that the NPP MP requested $8,500 for tuition as well as funds to cover her tickets and accommodation.

However, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya stated that: “The request was subsequently withdrawn by a letter dated 21 May 2018 due to parliament's decision to foot the entire cost of the training which includes the cost of her tickets and the accommodation”.

She added that the NHIA. in responding to the withdrawal letter, confirmed that the NHIA “did not make any payment whatsoever to Sarah Adwoa Safo”.

The statement, which was in response to a letter circulating on social media to the effect that Ms Safo sought for some monies from NHIA, emphasised that parliament’s resolve to sponsor the training session was borne out of the fact that the office she occupies in the legislature as Chairperson of the Women’s Caucus, is a critical one.

She reiterated that: “There are records to show she did not receive any money from NHIA after Parliament agreed to sponsor the educational programme”.

She admitted; "Yes, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo made the said request for sponsorship to the NHIA in a letter dated March 16, 2018. The request was subsequently withdrawn by a letter dated 21st May, 2018 due to Parliaments decision to foot the entire cost of the training which includes the cost of her tickets and the accommodation".

"There are records to show that she did not receive any money from the NHIA after Parliament agreed to sponsor the educational program. It must therefore be stated that Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo did not receive any money from NHIA nor did she authorize any person to do so," the statement added.