CAN THE GHANAIAN MEDIA HELP UNRAVEL THE GREAT INSURANCE INDUSTRY MYSTERY?

One doubts very much whether many journalists, let alone ordinary folk, are aware of the fact that the fare-paying occupant of every seat in what most Ghanaians refer to as "commercial passenger buses", which is insured and is involved in a road accident, is entitled to unlimited paid medical expenses from the vehicle's insurers (who apparently charge a premium of a cool 30 pesewas for each seat!).

Yet, the insurance industry in Ghana likes to project itself as a responsible one, which offers security and peace of mind to those who insure life and property with industry players.

Surely, if they were that sincere about being a socially responsible industry, most people, in what is one of the world's major blackspots for road accidents, would be aware of the fact that fare-paying passengers travelling on commercial passenger buses, are entitled to paid medical bills (with no upper ceiling!), should they be injured in an accident whiles travelling on an insured bus?

Another mystery that intrigues one, is why players in Ghana's insurance industry, who like to tell the world what good corporate citizens of Ghana they are, have still not told the state agencies responsible for what the industry refers to as "street
furniture", such as traffic lights, street lights, road signage, metal railings and drainage covers, that they are entitled to a payout from the insurers of vehicles that damage same (or if such vehicles cannot be traced, from the National Insurance Commission)?

Surely, that would bring solace to those injured in the many road accidents on our nation's road network every year? And would it also not enable the Ghana Highway Authority, District Assemblies and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to quickly replace street lights and traffic lights damaged by vehicles - ditto drainage covers stolen by the ubiquitous (some would prefer to use the word infernal!) "truck pushers" if that were the case?

Is it not time, dear reader, that the media in Ghana focused on this astonishing conspiracy of silence, which is enabling the insurance industry to get away with the withholding of trillions of old cedis, which they ought to be paying out to accident victims, the Ghana Highway Authority, the ECG and District Assemblies, year in year out, but are failing to - because of the ignorance of the general public?

It is a real mystery that an industry engaged in such an abominable conspiracy, which only the ruthless and callous can engage in, and for so long, have succeeded in making ordinary people and society generally have such a favourable impression of it.

The question is: Will the media help unravel this great insurance industry mystery - and expose this shabby and outrageous cartel-like misbehaviour to the world, finally? They will win plaudits aplenty, for sure, if they did so. Perhaps they can start by asking the National Insurance Commission, the industry regulator, why it has closed its eyes to this scandal for decades. A word to the wise...

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