Former President John Mahama has described as illogical the identification criteria announced by the National Identification Authority (NIA), for any Ghanaian who seeks to register for the card.
According to him, the move will denationalize over 20 million Ghanaians.
He however assured that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will do everything possible to have the identification scope expanded for the exercise.
“The NDC is going to do everything to fight for the best interest of the majority of the people to make sure that they are able to be identified and be given cards so that they can be identified as bonafide Ghanaians and that nobody is denationalized because of this process,” he assured.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) says it is accepting only passports or birth certificates as the mode of identification for the exercise.
Although some Ghanaians have raised concerns with the limited mode of identification, the NIA seems not be bothered with such concerns.
Speaking to teaming NDC supporters on Saturday during the party’s final Unity Walk, John Mahama said:
“We will use every legitimate instrument that is possible under a democracy to ensure that every Ghanaian is able to register as a Ghanaian.”
He said the NDC will fight in the interest of Ghanaians because the Ghana card will soon become “the single most important identification for every Ghanaian.”
“One of the villages in my constituency for example, Horeyere is a small community in Bole Bamboi. Perhaps nobody in the whole of Horeyere has a certificate or a passport. So for the 300 or 400 people in Horeyere with nobody having a birth certificate or a passport to prove that they are Ghanaian, how are you going to register those people in Horeyere. So it is illogical and shortsighted and a very strong symbol of incompetence that you cannot think far and see that on the basis for what you have prescribed as the criteria for the qualification for the national ID card, you are going to disenfranchise more than 20 million of our citizens and that is unacceptable.”
John Mahama argued that the limited identification scope by the NIA is a deliberate attempt to denationalize some of our people.”
He said the NDC ''shall not accept it and will not stand by and let it happen.”
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has served notice of boycotting the registration of MPs onto the NIA database on Monday, June 11, 2018.
The Minority MPs say they are boycotting the exercise because the NIA has failed to address some concerns raised in terms of the identification requirement and cost of the entire project.
The Ghana Card registration finally began last week at the Jubilee House on a low note after it failed to launch for five times despite several assurances.
Source: citinews
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We must all be aware that a national id card shows that one is a bonafide citizen of the country. This means that, if one has to register, the person must provide a legitimate identification document that proves his/her citizenship, and we're all aware that our voter id cards are not held by only Ghanaian citizens.Besides that, the voter id card doesn't provide enough information on the bearer to be truly identified as a Ghanaian. The same goes with the NHIS card. So it's reasonable and acceptable that one registers with a birth certificate, which provides comprehensive information on the holder, so it is with the passport. However, if one doesn't have either of these two means of identification, then two family members or neighbours can help prove their identity, this is logical and reasonable. We do not want a situation where we will end up with ECOWAS register. What baffles me is the fact that it's the NDC that has a problem with this issue, are they saying that only NPP members or supporters have birth certificates or passports as Ghanaians? Even the majority of Ghanaians are waiting eagerly to register, yet the NDC is talking as if Ghanaians don't want it.
Look at this incompetent and insulting former President. Remind him for me that he is not and will not be a president again. Resist and who cares?
We dont want any corrupt Ecowas register!!
THIS REMAKS FOR MAHAMA PORTRAY HIM EITHER AS AKRONFUUOHENE OR EDIOTTT. ALL OVER ADVANCED AND CIVILIZED WORLD EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THE NATION IS ACOUNTED FOR. NOBODY HIDES FROM THE STATE AND EVERYBODY IS IS TASKED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELFARE OF THE STATE. THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF DILIGENT AND CONSCIENCIOUS EFFORT TO INCLUDE ALL IN NATIONAL BIO DATA. CRITISM OF MAHAMA SHOWS THAT HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND MODERN GOVERNANCE OR HE WANTS TO HIDE HIS CRIMINALITY. NEITHER IS GOOD FOR HIM AS A FORMER PRESIDENT.
OH, THIS EX PRESIDENT WILL ALWAYS MAKE PEOPLE GET ANGRY WITH HIM. HE SPEAKS LIKE AN NDC FOOT SOLDIER WHO DOES NOT KNOW HIS LEFT FROM THE RIGHT. I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HIS MIND HE DOES NOT THINK RIGHT.I PLEAD WITH THE NPP GOV. NOT TO ALLOW VOTERS ID CARD TO BE USED IN THE GHANA CARD REGISTRATION.GHANAIANS WILL ALSO RESIST NOT TO ALLOW VOTERS ID TO BE USED IN ANY WAY.WHEN NANA ADDO WAS PROMISING GHANAIANS FREE SHS,RESTORING NURSES AND TEACHERS ALLOWANCE YOU JOHN MAHAMA WAS CHESTING OUT AND MAKING A SIGN OF USSAIN BOLT NOW YOU ARE CRYING BECAUSE OF YOUR CHILDISH ATTITUDE DURING THE CAMPAIGN TIME.YOU HAVE LIVE TO REGRET NOW YOUR LIFE IS IN SHAMBLE.
USAIN NIE ! ABAABASE NIE! NEA AKA WAAAANI. ONLY LESSER THINGS
listen to his disgrace crimialllll. mahama. , all ghana people like the new id,card, m, u dont like it, becouse u cant stealllllll, shame on u, nation stealer and destroyer, john mahama a disgrace man, all ghana a must give him 2% , fiafitor, from gh pp
If those crying against the registration have in mind to request for the inclusion of the previous Voter ID Card, then they should forget it. Those who were transported from neighboring countries may lose their identities with their motherland should they be allowed to register as Ghanaians. This is the simple message the authorities are to send through the leaders across our boarders to warn their citizens.
Mahama wouldn't have been the classic 1diot he is if he hadn't said this. This is exactly what we expect from a character like him.
Who cares? Continue resisting everything. We the masses will register. All we need is a passport, birth certificate or two people in our community confirming our nationality. Very simple