In other to ensure there is no denial of any legitimate Ghanaian in the issuance of the National ID Card, the Minority in Parliament has threatened to go to Court for clarifications on the status of the Voter’s Identity Card, which was strangely excluded in the requirement of the on-going National ID registration.

Addressing the Press in Parliament yesterday, the Minority Leader and Member for Tamale South Constituency, Hon. Haruna Idrissu disclosed that, the concerns raised by the minority in relations to the exclusion of the voter ID card as a means of identification in the ongoing issuance of the National ID remains unresolved.

The Supreme Court, He said,  has given earlier rulings regarding the subject matter and the Minority intend to do same for clarification, resolution and to seek justice for the “over 15million Ghanaians” who will be denied right to own the National ID due to their inability to provide passport and a birth certificate as required by the NIA.

“This is a matter of seeking legal clarification on the status of the Voter ID card as a means of reference, and we will head to the Supreme Court of Ghana for clarification on the basis of their earlier ruling.

“We, the National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) representative in Parliament is a very responsible Minority, and we owe the people of Ghana a major explanation as to why we have boycotted a major national exercise that is taking place”. He emphasized.

According to the Leader, the idea of a national identity system legitimately remains a matter of national importance and necessity, adding that in Ghana, only Two Million (2m) Ghanaians have Passports whiles Seven Million (7m) Ghanaians owning a Birth Certificates.

This means that, only Seven Million (7m) out of the Twenty Nine Million (29m) of Ghana’s population are being considered for this project per National Identification Authority’s requirement which considers Passports and Birth Certificates as the only means of identification in the ongoing National Card registration.

“The voter ID card which produced the government of President John A. Kuffuor, Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is a legitimate referencing document, especially referencing previous Supreme Court rulings”

Same however, has been excluded in the law (the Legislative Instrument) that deals with national identification, and the Minority are of the strong belief that the exercise should be all-inclusive.

“we find the reference document of only the Passport and Birth Certificate inadequate and inappropriate on the basis that many more Ghanaians would not be part of this exercise”. Hon. Haruna Idrissu explained.

Reiterating that the import of their boycott is to ensure that, there is no denial of any legitimate Ghanaian in the issuance of the National Id Card.

He added that there are matters of value for money and of procurement process in relation to the exercise that would be addressed in due course.

He therefore assured that the Minority still maintain their stance on the national card registration, and will continue to boycott the exercise until some legal issues are resolved to the satisfaction of all Ghanaians.

 

Exclusively Newslinegh