The Vice President, Dr. Mahumudu Bawumia has disclosed that from next year, babies born in Ghana will be issued National ID numbers at birth.
“Starting next year, every new born child will, within a month, be issued with a National ID number. So you’ll have your National ID number, and that will be your number until death. But you can only be issued a card, when your biometrics are fully formed. That is after you are six year old and beyond,” the Vice-President explained.
According to him, the policy is part of efforts to improve the computation of data on citizens, in line with government’s vision of creating a well-digitalised economy.
Addressing a lecture on Ghana's digital economy at the Ashesi University on Tuesday, the Vice President disclosed that, the Birth and Death Registry, is plagued by many challenges with regard to record keeping.
He spoke on the theme, “Transforming an economy through digitalization; the Ghana story”.
Dr. Bawumia argued that, due to recent changes across the globe, it has become necessary for Ghana to depart from traditional methods and adopt more digitalized approaches.
Recounting the state of the Birth and Death Registry, Dr. Bawumia said it has about three different data bases for birth and death registration. The three data bases, according to him, are not integrated, making it difficult for effective monitoring and evidence-based decision making at the Registry.
In his view, this accounts for the widespread incidents of falsified and illegal birth and death certificates in the country.
The Vice President said the issuance of National ID numbers to babies at birth will help improve record keeping at the Birth and Death Registry.
Dr Bawumia also touched on some of the landmark achievements of government in the area of digitalization and highlighted many future interventions and policies including the E-Cedi; a digital cash platform which will be in use from 2022.
Founder of the Ashesi University, Mr. Patrick Awuah applauded Dr. Bawumia for his remarkable efforts in digitizing the economy. Making reference to innovations such as the paperless system at the ports and the use of drones in medical services delivery, Mr. Awuah expressed his delight in hosting the Vice-President for the discourse on Ghana’s digitalization prospects.
Latest Stories
-
Ketu South MCE commissions an ultra-modern toilet facility in Aflao
5 mins -
Sunyani East parliamentary elections: Ransford Antwi to contest as an independent candidate
14 mins -
Publish full KPMG report on SML/GRA contract – NDC to Akufo-Addo
21 mins -
Inspire Action trains 24 people in vocational training
23 mins -
The government pays little attention to the health sector – Sammy Gyamfi
28 mins -
Peter Amewu mourns after mother’s death
31 mins -
Contract between the government and SML unlawful- Sammy Gyamfi
34 mins -
Dennis Agyei Boateng: Harnessing the power of development communication for Ghana’s development
37 mins -
Achieving equity in the fight against malaria requires greater domestic resource mobilisation
38 mins -
MP Murder Case: Defence Counsel to file ex-parte application to subpoena persons to assist trial
41 mins -
Eat healthy foods to attain anti-aging goals – Nutritionist
44 mins -
4 little ways to tell if you’re crazy-in-love or just crazy-obsessed
46 mins -
Court jails man seven years for cocoa smuggling
48 mins -
Poor driving behaviour contributes to air pollution – Experts
51 mins -
Ejisu by-election: Manipulation of electorates will take place the night before the polls – Dr Asah-Asante
56 mins