The Minority in parliament has threatened to go court to challenge the decision of the National Identification Authority (NIA) not to accept the voter’s ID card for registration of the new Ghana Card.
The minority also maintained that they would continue to boycott the exercise until all legal issues surrounding the registration were resolve to the satisfaction of all Ghanaians.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader made the statement when he spoke to the media in Parliament to clarify the minority’s position on issues relating to the national identification system.
The minority in recent times have raised concerns about the refusal of the NIA to accept the voter’s ID card as a proof of citizenship for persons to be hooked unto the NIA platform.
The group, have also raised questions about the cost, scope and legality of the project as well as registration requirements.
Mr Iddrisu also stated that the NDC minority in Parliament has a duty to explain to Ghanaians why such a major national exercise like the registration for the new Ghana card.
He said the idea of a national identity system remained a national imperative and a necessity.
He however stated that the requirement to use only passport and birth certificate for the registration for the national identity card was problematic since only two million people have the passports and seven million have birth certificates.
Mr Iddrisu further challenged Professor Ken Attafuah, Chief Executive of the NIA’s assertion that only passport and birth certificate would be required for purpose of registration.
He said the minority was of strong believe that the voter ID card was a genuine reference document, which had been omitted from the law.
“It is our strong view that the voter ID card is a legitimate reference document that has been excluded from the law” he added.
Mr Iddrisu also stated that it was the expectation of the minority for the registration exercise to be all inclusive; however the boycott is to ensure that no legitimate Ghanaian citizen was denied access to be part of the national identification system.
He said the minority also finds the reference document of only the passport and birth certificate inadequate and insufficient.
He said with such reference document as the basis many more Ghanaians, would be prevented from taking part in the exercise, which would bring to question, the utility of the exercise being undertaken.
He therefore asked Ghanaians to appreciate the position of the minority why they are not taking in the registration exercise.
Credit: GNA
