The National Identification Authority wants Ghanaians to see the previous registration exercise as a learning curve and not a wasteful venture as the Authority gets ready to issue new smart cards.

"I think it's too strong to say we've wasted funds [in the previous exercise]. We've had challenges but we've learned from those challenges and we are going to do better", Chief Executive of NIA Josiah Affail Cobbah told Joy News' Elton John Brobbey.

Reports that the NIA plans on spending some $115 million on the supposed advanced cards have been greeted with public criticism in what some say would amount to a waste of public funds.

The previous registration exercise which began six years ago, cost the nation over Gh₵21 million. Many are yet to receive their cards but with the move, it will be already out of use.

 The $115 million facility from Exim China is currently awaiting cabinet and parliamentary approval.

The new national IDs are expected to have better features than some 15 million cards issued by the authority in a similar exercise.

But Josiah Cobbah has explained that the new process will eliminate gaps in registration of persons and issuance of the new national IDs.

"This is not the old process where we take details of persons, ask them to come back before we distribute their cards. This is instant issuance", Dr Cobbah said.

According to him, a key feature in the new process would be the elimination of inconvenience to eligible persons who wish to obtain the Ghana Cards.

Dr. Cobbah also disclosed that personnel of the authority have undergone training to ensure greater professionalism in the discharge of their duties. 

He revealed that should everything go as planned 15 million Ghanaians will be issued with national ID cards by January 2015.

The Chief Executive of NIA said the private sector would be involved in the new process to improve the new process.

"I personally think my neck is on the line", he said.

The NIA maintains the new smart cards will have a larger storage capacity to enhance government’s vision of harmonising all databases into one.

The new cards, according to the NIA,  would also serve as a one stop card that will be used for all transactions by Ghanaians.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) was set up in 2003 under the Office of the President with the mandate to issue national ID cards known as Ghanacards and manage the National Identification System (NIS).

This resulted in the passing of the NIA Act, 2006 (Act 707) to give it the necessary legal premises on which to operate.