The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bristol Chapter, United Kingdom (UK), has lauded Vice President Dr Mahmoud Bawumia for introducing the Ghana Card numbers at birth initiative, hailing it as a significant step towards establishing a comprehensive national identity (ID) system in Ghana.
In a statement signed by Mr Michael Ampaadu, the Communication Director of the Chapter, the initiative was praised for its potential to enhance security and reduce instances of identity fraud by creating a national identification system starting from birth.
The statement highlighted the importance of such a system in the present digital age, where identity theft and cybercrimes pose significant risks. It compared the initiative with established national identification systems in developed countries like the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
While acknowledging the challenges associated with implementing a national identification system, especially at birth, the Chapter emphasized the need for robust safeguards to protect citizens' personal information from exploitation and misuse.
Drawing on experiences from developed countries, the statement called for transparency, accountability, and data security to gain public trust and foster wider acceptance of the national identification system.
The Chapter expressed confidence that leveraging the lessons learned from countries like the UK and the US would enable Ghana to harness the full potential of the Ghana Card numbers at birth initiative to drive sustainable development, enhance good governance, and improve citizens' lives.