The flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom has lauded government to reviving the National Identification system.

Government on Thursday announced steps for the implementation of a comprehensive national identification project, in fulfilment of a long-held New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaign pledge to build a database of Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana.

At a broad consultative meeting chaired by the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, all the major stakeholders, including the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR), National Identification Authority (NIA), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ghana Revenue Authority and National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), underscored the need to have a single national database to aid policy planning and implementation.

The aim is to establish an integrated Data Warehouse of databases from key public institutions, using the National Identification System as the unique identifier for data items, and automating the processes involved in accessing public services at both national and local government offices.

The national identification project is also expected to be completed within the first year of the NPP administration, in fulfilment of a manifesto pledge to complete the registration of all residents in Ghana under the National Identification Scheme, thereby establishing an integrated data warehouse of databases from key public institutions, using the National Identification System as the unique identifier for data items, and automating the processes involved in accessing public services at both national and local government offices.

The NPP government is convinced the National ID scheme will help formalise the economy through the establishment of a national database, using the National Identification System as the primary identifier, with linkages to the databases of institutions such as the Police, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Passport Office, Immigration, courts, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Commending government for the initiative, Dr. Nduom said the process must be seen as a matter of national interest without partisan colouration.

In a Facebook post, He posted on his Facebook Wall on Thursday, January 27: “The PPP believes in this project. I have advocated for it for more than two decades. Others have also argued for it. We must all continue to encourage those charged with the responsibility to bring the project to a successful end to get it done with a high sense of urgency.”

The PPP’s presidential candidate for the 2006 elections was of the view that “Ghana will be a better, more disciplined country when the project is completed successfully”.