Members of the Minority caucus in Parliament have declared they do not trust in assurances by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to release funds to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to register more Ghanaians for the Ghana Card.

The NIA is said to owe its suppliers GHȼ117 million, which has resulted in the curtailment of its work in registering and issuing the Ghana Card.

The Electoral Commission wants to recognise the Ghana Card as the only source of identification for registering prospective Ghanaian voters, and has consequently proposed a Constitutional Instrument before Parliament to make it the law, however the Minority have vehemently opposed the move on the grounds that it may disenfranchise many.

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission was in Parliament on Tuesday to defend and justify the CI, and urged parliament to approve it as it would ensure the integrity of future elections in Ghana.

The NIA has been unable to print the cards for over three million registrants as a result of the lack of the cards, and has restricted its registration activities largely to rendering premium services at a fee, currently at GHȼ280.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was in parliament also on Tuesday, and told the house the Ministry had just released funds to clear the GHȼ100 million of the GHȼ117 million debts owed by the National Identification Authority so it can proceed with its work.

And according to JoyNews’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Kwaku Asante, the Minority says it will be risky to trust in the assurances of the Minister.

They spoke at a press conference addressed by Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson.

We can’t trust Ken Ofori-Atta’s assurances to NIA – Minority

Members of the Minority caucus in Parliament have declared they do not trust in assurances by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to release funds to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to register more Ghanaians.

The NIA is said to owe its suppliers millions of cedis, which has resulted in the curtailment of its work in registering and issuing the Ghana Card.

The Electoral Commission wants to recognise the Ghana Card as the only source of identification for registering prospective Ghanaian voters, and has consequently proposed a Constitutional Instrument before Parliament to make it the law, however the Minority have vehemently opposed the move on the grounds that it may disenfranchise many.

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission was in Parliament on Tuesday to defend and justify the CI, and urged parliament to approve it as it would ensure the integrity of future elections in Ghana.

The NIA has been unable to print the cards for over three million registrants as a result of the lack of the cards, and has restricted its registration activities largely to rendering premium services at a fee, currently at GHȼ280.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was in parliament also on Tuesday, and told the house the Ministry had just released funds to clear the GHȼ117 million debts owed by the National Identification Authority so it can proceed with its work.

And according to JoyNews’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Kwaku Asante, the Minority says it will be risky to trust in the assurances of the Minister.