In fulfillment of a long-held NPP campaign pledge, the Akufo-Addo government has begun the process of implementing a comprehensive national identification project to build a database of Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana.
At a broad consultative meeting chaired by the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, all the major stakeholders, including the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR), National Identification Authority (NIA), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ghana Revenue Authority and National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) underscored the need to have a single national database to aid policy planning and implementation.
Also in attendance were officials from the Ministry of Finance, Minister designate for Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Electoral Commission (EC), Driver Vehicle and Licence Authority (DVLA), Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GHIPSS) and industry experts.
The National Identification project is expected to be completed within the first year of the NPP administration, in fulfillment of a manifesto pledge to complete the registration of all residents in Ghana under the National Identification Scheme, thereby establishing an integrated Data Warehouse of databases from key public institutions, using the National Identification System as the unique identifier for data items, and automating the processes involved in accessing public services at both national and local government offices.
The NPP government is convinced the National ID scheme would help formalize the economy through the establishment of a national database, using the National Identification System as the primary identifier, with linkages to the databases of institutions such as the Police, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Passport Office, Immigration, Courts, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)
Addressing the representatives of the key stakeholders, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia noted that there has been too much talk around the issue of national ID cards but very little effective action or results even though $50 million has been spent on the project since 2009.
A single national ID system would, amongst others, track immunization of children and health care of citizens, issue drivers licenses and passports linked to digital identity registry, eliminate ghost names from the civil service payroll, and reduce cost of maintaining multiple Identity databases, the Vice President stated.
Four Committees – Legal, Technical, Financial and Oversight – to shepherd the project.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION VEEP. I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS NATIONAL ID FOR GOD KNOWS WHEN, I WONDERED WHY THIS BRILLIANT NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY WAS SOON TRUNCATED AFTER A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. I DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE THAT NPP WHO STARTED THIS PROJECT WOULD ALSO ABANDON IT AFTER A WHILE. MY SIMPLE SUBMISSION TO THE COMMITTEE IS THAT; 1. THERE SHOULD BE FIRST, A HOLISTIC BIODATAREGISTRATION FOR PUBLIC AND CILVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES TO CAPTURE THEIR DATA USING A WELL DESIGNED NATIONAL ID FORMS 2. EACH FAMILY HEAD (FATHER ETC )SHOULD BE MADE A PRINCIPAL CONTACT WITH THEIR SURNAME AND DATE OF BIRTH AS A SORTING TOOL OR KEY FOR SEARCHING OTHER MEMNBERS OF THE FAMILY . 3. A NEW OR FRESH PAGE SHOULD BE OPENED UNDER SUCH PRINCIPAL PERSONALITIES OF THE FAMILY TO REGISTER ALL THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND ONCE A PERSON GIVES HIS/HER NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH OR HOMETOWN AND FATHER'S NAME ( ANY TWO TO THREE COMBINATIONS COULD DO0 . A LOOK UP WIZARD WITH A POPUP SUGGESTED NAME OF A PEINCIPAL PERSON SHOULD APPEAR AND IF CONFIRMED BY THE APPLICANT BE USED TO REGISTER THE PERSON UNDER THE PRINCIPAL NAME. 4. WITH THIS DONE , NO MATTER WHERE A PERSON LIVES AND WORK IN GHANA , THE SYSTEM CAN LOCATE ANY MEMNBER OF THE FAMILY ANY WHERE IN GHANA FOR EASY IDENTIFICATION. 5. BECAUSE MOST WOMEN CHANGE THEIR NAMES AFTER MARRIAGE BY LEGAL MEANS , THE FORM FOR THE BIO DATA SHOULD CONTAIN A " MAIDEN NAME" OPTION TO BE FILLED BY APPLICANT WHO HAVE CHANGED THEIR NAMES . 6. EACH HOUSEHOLD SHOULD GIVEN A HOUSE ADDRESS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED BY AN APPROPRIATE HOUSE ADDRESSING SYSTEM SOFTWARE EXAMPLE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS). I WISH TO SEE A DAY WHERE , I DONT NEED TO CARRY ANY OTHER ID OR PASTORT PICTURE OR SOME DOCUMENTS BEFORE I COULD BE EASILY IDENTIFIED TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT OR USE A SERVICE OR A FACILITY GOD BLESS OUR HOME LAND GHANA .
A step in the right direction. Onaapo
I am suspecting that some of our journalists are plain crazy. Does putting up a committee mean a pledge has been fulfilled? Then what will happen if they really deliver? This is plain stuooopidity. Its like saying after assemblying Black stars you have won the cup. Plain ***barred word***. This is all propaganda and nothing else.
Ghana is on the right path to become great..This is so so important.
NANA & ALHAJI!!! Please be vigilant ,very vigilant and "extra" vigilant. Because right there in the 'Authority', there are topmost persons who never wants 'this' project to succeed. They did it to 'unsuspecting and unscrupulous' Kuffour.Handed over to their cronies with 'official' endorsement.They are ready to repeat it to you, unless you take very 'decisive'and 'drastic' actions. Watch my word. But i believe God would help you.
It should be made compulsory and failure to register must go with denial of certain services like assessing education, passport, land registration, permits, voting, etc. However, it must have a legislation that will not conflict with the fundamental rights of citizens as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.Proper land marking (street naming)and house numbering system are necessary. it should be an offence for one to move house or from one place to another without informing the authority to update the database. Churches should not see this as demonic as a "666" but educate their members to fully participate. EC register for election should just be extraction from the database and no need to compile voters register.
Until the NIA is completely overhauled nothing better will come out of these meetings. There are dubious contract agreements that must be revisited. Some Staff must be sacked for being incompetent particularly the alliterate Executive Secretary who has been put there by the NDC administration because he is a party foot soldier and many others including all the Accounting staff there. As for the legal officer there, he does not deserve any job at all. cantc
I am really happy about this. I pray everything works perfectly
The National Identification Project to issue The Ghana Citizen Identity Card to the Ghanaian is cardinal for growing the Ghana Republic into nationhood, so vital the assignment must be scrupulous pursed and finished to good effect. It defeats a wrong policy the NDC political grouping has pursed to destroy our dear country. This is the Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia vision revisited. See my long article of the need for the Ghana Nation Identity Card. Ghana transform phenomenally hence to healthy growth.
EC should have been first on the list of stakeholders. Kudos