It's time to implement national ID system - Nduom

efua

April 30, 2016 12:16 PM

"If we want to as a nation, we can complete a national identification based voters' register in four months. But who am I to say this?" he remarked

The founder and leader of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom is demanding the full implementation of the National Identification System.

In a post on his Facebook page, Dr. Nduom argued that this system is key to ensuring discipline in Ghana’s national life.

He stated that a reliable national identification system would have greatly helped the on-going limited voter registration exercise, as well as cleaning out the voters register.

“Indeed the exercise going on now, the limited registration of voters and methods being used point to poverty of ideas and the clinging to mediocrity. If we want to as a nation, we can complete a national identification based voters' register in four months. But who am I to say this?”

“We can do better that this,” he said, adding that “if we use our God-given talents well and stop foolish politics, paradise will be ours in Ghana.”

Below is his full statement

FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM IS A MUST

Whenever the subject of a national identification system is discussed, reference is only made to registration of voters, politics and voting. That is unfortunate. Because it is politics and greed on the part of some public officials who want to benefit from inflated contracts that have prevented this important system from being implemented.

Such a system is key to ensuring discipline in our national life in many respects. Building sound credit databases, criminal justice systems, etc need unique national identification numbers for effective and credible use. Our roads will be safer as bad drivers will not be able to throw away one driver's license and get another. The same with passports, loans, etc. When a national identification is used for banking, it can also help the state catch those who avoid paying taxes.

So what stops us from getting this done? Why has this system stalled in implementation since 2008? Why no sense of urgency?

I am reliably informed that more than 10 million people have been registered by the National Identification Authority and the figure could be a lot more than that. I have my card and I carry it proudly everywhere. It gives me an unquestionable national identity.

Of course, I am of the belief that it is only the use of the national identification database that can lead us to a credible voters' register and make it possible for the continuous registration of voters.

Indeed the exercise going on now, the limited registration of voters and methods being used point to poverty of ideas and the clinging to mediocrity.

If we want to as a nation, we can complete a national identification based voters' register in four months. But who am I to say this?

We can do better that this. If we use our God-given talents well and stop foolish politics, paradise will be ours in Ghana.

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