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Press Release
Ghana Government
January 26, 2017
Government Kick-Starts National ID
project
The Akufo-Addo government has begun the
process of implementing a comprehensive national identification
project, in fulfillment of a long-held NPP campaign pledge 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.
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