The MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga says there is no excuse for the country’s inability to complete the national identification process.
“It is something that is long overdue, and in this day and age, Ghana regrettably should be ashamed of itself; that it is struggling to identify its nationals and issue them some documents that testify to this identity,” he remarked on The Big Issue.
[contextly_sidebar id=”hWthvCHkN6PpTd19xlCanoGtUFKLfOV0″]The MP’s comments follow the fifth false start by the National Identification Authority as it looked to begin the registration and instant issuance of the Ghana Card.
Other comparable countries have been able to roll out a national identification system that Mr Ayariga feels is not beyond Ghana.
“Unfortunately, Ghana, since independence, has not done that and we have no excuse for not doing that,” he stated.
He also acknowledged the failures of his National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s on this front.
“I think that it’s regrettable that we never did that within eight years. It’s not difficult. Why should we take eight years to do it?”
Possible sabotage
In his take on the matter, IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe said he suspected some foul play.
“I do not have any proof, but I am tempted to believe that in this whole thing about starting and false starting, there may be some sabotage going on,” he said on The Big Issue.
Mr Cudjoe did not think the CEO of the NIA, Professor Ken Attafuah, would make definite pronouncements if he wasn’t sure the Authority was ready.
No show
The Ghana Card registration again failed to launch on Monday despite the NIA’s assurances.
The three arms of government, former heads of state, journalists and security officials were to be the first to be issued cards before registration opened to the general public.
The NIA has apologised to the Presidency and other institutions for its inability to issue the Ghana Card.
According to the NIA, it was unable to start the registration and issuance of the card as announced due to “technical difficulties.”
In a statement, the NIA said it would outline the challenges it faced in due course.
Monday’s failure marked it the fifth time the NIA’s has missed an announced deadline.
–
By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
