The Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has accused government of using the National Identification Card (Ghana card) as a tool to infringe on the rights of citizens.

According to him, the implementation of the card was a prudent one that was meant to make life easy for citizens.

Mr Simons, however, noted that government’s decision to make it the sole document for every other registration exercise is unfair.

“We [IMANI Africa] has always been supportive of the card because a lot of people cannot afford passport and other ID cards that prove that you are a Ghanaian.

"So a free nationwide multifunctional card is a great thing but it should come to enhance and enrich people’s life not to become another instrument with which the elite use to beat poor people,” he opined.

The Ghana Card in recent times has become the only document to prove your nationality in various disciplines.

Aside Bank of Ghana, ruling for the card to be the legitimate instrument to transact business in all financial institutions in the country, the Communications Ministry asked all and sundry to register their SIM cards with the Ghana Cards.

This exercise since its commercement led to chaos in various parts of the country forcing the government to postpone the deadline twice.

Recently, the Electoral Commission hinted that the National Identification Card will be the sole document required to attain a voter’s ID.

The decision has been kicked against by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), however, the EC is bent on implementing it.

But the Vice President said the EC’s decision does not make rational sense.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Mr Simons asked why the current leadership of EC refuses to adhere to any suggestions that are provided by relevant stakeholders.

“Electoral Commissions come and go, but this is the first time we are having an EC who fundamentally refuses to engage with stakeholders on any matter of national interest.

“Every time they come up with an idea and people raise legitimate concerns they brush it aside and try to use power to bulldoze through,” he stated.