Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who serves as the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that the party does not have faith in the National Identification Authority (NIA).
Asiedu Nketia claims that the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Professor Ken Attafuah, has broken his promise to distribute Ghana Cards to all citizens who are eligible by the end of the year 2022.
Asiedu Nketia highlighted the fact that, as a result of this, there is a lack of trust in the NIA.
During an appearance on The Pulse on JoyNews on Tuesday, March 14, the former General Secretary of the NDC stated to the show’s host, Blessed Sogah, that the NIA cannot be trusted as long as Professor Attafuah is in charge of it.
“The reason for this issue is that there is a lack of full trust between our organization (NDC) and the NIA, as well as other state agencies.
“In what state are we currently? We are getting closer and closer to the end of March 2023, and they are still replacing those promises with other promises.
If we were in another jurisdiction, Ken Attafuah would have been required to resign because we are debating state business and you must come and make a solemn oath that this is what we have decided to implement.
Asiedu Nketia questioned the speaker, “It is state business, and we must all cooperate to make it happen, and I am going to play this part within three months.
Now it has been six months and over, and what you promised hasn’t happened, and you think that you are entitled to be listened to?” Mr. Nketia said. “I am going to play this part within three months.”
Through its proposed C.I., the Electoral Commission (EC) is working toward the goal of using the Ghana Card as the only source document for registering voters on the voter register.
Despite this, the minority has decided to oppose the move made by the EC.
The Caucus is also raising questions about the National Identification Authority’s ability to deliver identification cards to all applicants who have registered before the general election in 2024.
In the meantime, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that it is planning to print additional cards now that the government has paid off the debt of 100 million Ghana cedis owed to creditors.
As a result of the NIA’s ongoing struggle to meet its financial obligations, the printing of the cards was put on hold.
As a result of this, more than 3.5 million cards were stored in a bonded warehouse until further notice.
In contrast, while testifying in front of Parliament on February 28, 2023, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, revealed that an additional amount of GH20 million had been paid to CalBank following the initial payment of GH80 million.
Subsequently, the NIA, through Professor Ken Attafuah, promised to deliver on its mandate by ensuring that the backlog is cleared.
“The NIA possesses the operational and technical competence necessary to print and issue the cards. We are ready to deliver on our mandate.
The NIA is poised, ready, and able to provide and deliver on its mandate, subject to the provision of the much-needed financial support that is warranted,” the NIA boss said.
However, Mr Nketia stressed that the NIA cannot be trusted.
