The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has called on Government to make the registration for the Ghana Card a National project.
He said this will make the exercise more participatory and non-discriminatory to all citizens of the country.
He said Ghana must learn lessons from other African countries that have suffered some negative consequences in the implementation of the National Identification Card before going ahead to roll it out.
According to him, countries like Cote d’Ivoire and the Zambia have been plunged into wars when they tried to denationalize other citizens during the implementation of their National identity card project.
Mr. Nketia, while addressing a mammoth rally after a walk against Ghana card discrimination organized by NDC executives in Obuasi East and West constituencies of the Ashanti Region, called for broader consultation in the implementation of the policy.
“There are more advantages when the Ghana Card is properly implemented. It will effectively enhance the mobilization of revenue through tax collection, it will make the application of Passports very easy, it will also make the compilation of the population census very easy for the nation and it will be easy for the nation during elections, but if it is not properly done and results in discrimination among the citizenry, it can lead to chaos in the nation”, he stressed.
He cited Cote d’ivoire and Zambia as African countries that were plunged into wars when the implementers of their National Identity Cards tried to denationalize other qualified citizens in those countries.
The NDC General Secretary insisted that the argument must not be limited to the advantages of the Ghana Card, but the focus must be on how to properly implement it so it will not go against any Ghanaian who is supposed to have one.
“Every Ghanaian must be given the chance to acquire the Ghana Card. But we will not say because of one’s personal interest the policy must be done anyhow just like the NPP is seeking to do. That is why we are continuously reminding the NPP led Government that if the Ghana Card is not made a National project, it might bring negative consequences onto the nation,” he warned.
The walk attracted hundreds including supporters of the opposition NDC, former appointees of the John Mahama led administration, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other party stalwarts.
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By: Hafiz Tijani/citinewsroom.com/Ghana