Ghana card, not to disenfranchise anybody – President
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) requirements for the ongoing Ghana Card registration are not seeking to disenfranchise any Ghanaian.
These requirements had been approved by both sides of Parliament, and he described as “unfortunate”, attempts at undermining the exercise through spurious claims.
“We are not disenfranchising anybody, the card is meant for Ghanaians, and that is why Parliament with the full support of both sides of the House, approved it.
If you are a Ghanaian and you don’t have a passport, it is written in the Law that you produce somebody who has already been registered so he can vouch for you and you get your papers”, President Akufo-Addo stated.
He was addressing chiefs form the southern part of the Volta Region at Tadzevwu in the Ketu North Municipality as part of his three-day tour of the Region.
He pointed out that national identification remained a prominent feature in the organisation of developed states, and called on traditional leaders to help ensure everyone got the card.
“I am pleading with you, embrace the card. Let everybody get a national identity card. Let us improve the governance of our country, our statistical basis, our planning.”
He said little progress had been made on the National Identification card by previous governments, and promised to ensure the project was completed during his tenure.
The President said they were on course to delivering all promises they made and asked that people gave strong backing to the government’s various initiatives for jobs and wealth creation.
He had earlier inaugurated the Anloga Shopping Centre, and a 100 bed Major Courage Quashigah Hostel for the Keta Nursing and Midwifery Training School.
Source: GNA