Will one stop national ID be sustainable?

I was very happy on hearing the news that government will be consolidating the numerous splitter national identification mediums into a one-time definite platform. Yes, I mean I was very overwhelmed with joy and happiness because should this materialise, it will make the country gain some strong footholds comparatively in saving cost as a result of unreliable database prevalence now; there will be a more unique national budgetary planning and control, a reliable bio-data warehouse construction, population control, efficient resource allocation and provision, proper electoral conduct and formulation of legal reforms, etc.

The Akufo-Addo government has begun the process of implementing a comprehensive national identification project in fulfilment of their long-held campaign pledge to build a one-time robust database of Ghanaians and others resident in Ghana.

The National Identification project, under the chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s Vice-President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bamumia, is expected to be completed within the first year of their government in partial fulfilment of the party’s manifesto. The idea is to migrate existing varied national identification cards onto a single platform. National IDs such as the NHIS card, Voter’s ID, Birth Certificate, Passport and others will be migrated onto the new window.

Having expressed my joy upon hearing the news, I equally wish to inform government about the following:

In the year 2000-2008, the erstwhile President Kufuor’s government started the same project, but unfortunately, this project couldn’t see the light of day. What did we achieve with such similar projects under the same government a few years ago? Was there a progress report on that? Did the previous governments (the late Prof. Mills’ and John Mahama’s governments, respectively) continue the project and review it? How much was spent on that project at the time?

I also knew very well that a body instituted by an Act of Parliament (I mean the National Identification Authority) is mandated by law to undertake a project of this sort. Why is it that they are not engaged to continue the project? Or is the project just one of a kind to gain popular political expediency?

What succession plan was put in place under the erstwhile Kufuor government for continuity in case of change of government? Why didn’t the late Prof. Mills government continue the project? What went wrong?

Now, should this new project once again re-surface, how will it be carried out and managed? How much is the project cost (in all phases)? What is the mode of financing this brilliant initiative? What is the strategic drift put in place to manage this very effectively, efficiently and economically?

Finally, a strong and unwavering stakeholder commitment and partnership is needed to fast-track this project. What and how are the various stakeholders such as 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, National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and other relevant commissions and agencies going to be involved in this enterprise?

Conclusion:

All things being equal, there is no doubt that this initiative, should it finally be revived under the same government, wouldn’t be fruitful, but a quick retrospection is needed to awaken the consciousness of Ghanaians once more.

 I remember the stress my grandmother (an old lady) had to endure just to register for this same National Identification Card years ago.

Yes, the times have changed and I also pray Ghanaians will see the relevance of this too and its sustenance years to come even when there is a sudden change of government.