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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So Mahama is not aware that Ghanaians who do not have passports and birth certificates can be registered on the testimony of two relatives or neighbours? Well, Dr. Bawumia rightly said that these people called NDC do not read.
When MAHAMA was comfortably corrupting up Ghana i believe no one RESISTED YOU?John as you're called try and discipline yourself if you will not register sit down and Keep quiet
then, many people will not be resisted, I don't even know where the Airport is!!!!
These NDC people are aware they will never be able to rig any elections in Ghana again..... No wonder they even want ghosts to register as Ghanaians.... What were they doing in parliament when the bill was being debated? No wonder Rawlings referred to Ford Mahama as a rogue.....
WHY YOU ARE CRYING OF VOLTA VOTES BECAUSE THEY CANT REGISTER WITHOUT BIRTH CERT
Here they are, is just a a ploy that Ghanaians are not ready for it. Anyway, a bona fide Ghanaian without a passport or a birth certificate will definitely get two people in his village or neighbourhood to testify for him that he is Ghanaian. I'm posters and non Ghanaians should bear in mind that our citizenship is not cheap as is in USA. If you are a foreigner born in Ghana you must go through citizen acquisition process as is in UK. Don't be ***barred word*** by these NDC guys.
This is clear indication that you have no link with NDC parliamentarians, invariably a sign of incompetencee, what were you doing all this while, apparently you had all the opportunity to have discussed this with the MP’s, Aaaba Mr Ex President, don’t behave like a f00tsoldier but a statement
Go sit your somewhere, and think about it ya self.
That is NDC for you. They oppose anything they have no idea about. Mr. Mahama, I hope this is not another plagiarism by the NPP, that is why you refuse to participate? I think your NDC MPs are dumb. They sit in the house and bills are passed into law. During implementation of the law, they begin to make noise. The NDC supporters should scrutinize their MPs very well before they vote for them. We shall all participate in the NI process, because we are Ghanaians. I suspect these NDC people cannot prove they are pure Ghanaians, that is why they are afraid to register.
When they said he was incompetent it is a fact. Even in opposition you are displaying incompetence in reasoning and common sense. Why couldn't Mr Mahama say okay let the government make it easy for people to acquire a birth certificate instead of saying you will resist the process. NDC ruled for 8years and they couldn't do a simple NI so what moral right do they have to question the process. If you like don't register no one cares. Such a diabolic and mischievious party with criminal agenda. Who in this country does'nt know even foreigners have the voters card.