Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has assured that financial resources needed to help clear the debt owed by the National Identification Authority (NIA) will be provided.

Mr Ofori-Atta’s assurance follows a revelation by the NIA boss, Prof Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday that financial constraints are not making them live up to expectation.

According to him, although there are cards and capable staff to carry on with the printing process, a private company in the arrangement is owed a considerable amount of money hence their refusal to release the Ghana Cards to the NIA.

But speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Ofori-Atta said the Finance Ministry has come to an agreement with Cal Merchant bank to ensure that the 3.5 million cards will be released for printing to begin.

He noted that there has been an agreement of a hundred million cedi transfer, adding that 80 million has been deposited into the accounts.

He went on to say that the remaining 20 million will be deposited close of business on Tuesday.

“So we are very comfortable about the situation to ensure that the needed cards will be given to the NIA to do its work.

“Mr Speaker, government has been extremely good about funding elections and once NIA’s job is linked to the elections, Mr Speaker, we can assure the House that we would ensure that resources needed will always be provided,” he assured.

Meanwhile, the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has cast doubt on the assurance given by the Finance Minister.

Taking to the floor of Parliament, he asked the Minister to support his assertion with evidence.

This, he explained, is because the Minister cannot be trusted.