Edmund Kyei Writes: Nana Addo Is Gapping Like Usain Bolt

As I wrap up my assignment here in Europe and preparing to return home, I have being playing back some recent comments by the NDC since the National Identification System was launched by the President  Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, so I decide to share some profound thoughts in that regard.

I have said it before and I reiterate that Governance is not for the faint-hearted but rather leadership that proactively responds to people’s need boldly and accordingly in time. In 18 months, the quantum of achievements of the NPP affords every Ghanaian the opportunity to say Ghana is charting the right path now.  

The NDC as usual is carelessly running in conscious effort to obstruct the Ghana Card registration process to the detriment of Ghana and for their partisan gains. Their singular aim is to confuse and misdirect the focus of the general public from this all important project for Ghana.  

Having lost the attack many times against much other similar bold initiatives since the NPP came to power such as the Free SHS program, they tend to find a new way to impede the speed of progress for Ghana under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led administration.  

First, the mantra was, it is impossible to implement such project due to inadequate resources. The Mahama-led government in an attempt to do the National Identification System cost the country exceedingly, capital resources that could have been utilized for many other development projects in 8 years got wasted yet they were unable to issue a single card despite the budget expended at their disposal. 

The argument shifted to inflated cost of the project seeking to sell into the minds of the people that there is element of corruption in the process.

It is established that the cost of production Ghana card is justified in the numerous features that come with it and the quantity to be produced.  The new Ghana Card is designed to operate with International standard practice as it is found in many developed countries in Europe and the rest of the World. 

A Ghanaian holder of the card can link the card to bank accounts to enhance modern payment systems with easy identification for financial institutions and can also use the card as passport within the ECOWAS region.

As a country, we have lost in the past several opportunities  to solve  national challenges such as unregulated national identification problem. Ghana can’t wait any longer to lose annual investments and unquantifiable benefits by failing to implement this indispensable National Identification Project. 

It is undoubtedly the foundation and development tool for any modern Nation in the 21st Century and beyond.  With this infrastructure in place, it will be easier to predict government revenue through taxes. The tax net can be expanded to cover the informal sectors of our economy and social intervention programs can be planned and developed well for Ghanaians.

The visionary Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo espouses that without any further delay, the quick implementation of the NIS is imperative to serve as strong foundation for good governance and provides sound basis for the future.  The NIS has been properly thought through as the most efficient solution for what we need now as a country and at this rate and speed which is incomprehensible to the capture of the opposition NDC, I believe that we are well on our way to build Ghana and make it greater again.

Edmund Kyei

First Vice Chairman

Asokwa Constituency

Communication Member NPP