The Ministry of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation (MEPRC) on Wednesday called for dialogue with the Electoral Commission (EC) to reach a speedy resolution of the controversy on whose prerogative it was to issue a national identity card in conformity with the 1992 Constitution.

A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency and signed by Mr James Quarshie, Director, Finance and Administration of the Ministry, said there was the need for the EC to take the matters raised about the National Identification System (NIS) out of the media and public realm so that they could be referred to the appropriate quarters for a resolution.

The statement said the Ministry only acted on a mandate from Cabinet as Co-ordinator of the NIS project and not as the implementing or operating agency of the national database.

It said NIS was a very important national project with a broad scope adding that if it were well executed it would ensure a credible, accurate and reliable database.

The statement said the project was still in its preparatory stage and decisions regarding where the national database would be located and which agency would have responsibility for operating the system had not been made.

Mr Quarshie said the Minister of Justice and Attorney General would be requested to review the legal issues raised concerning the location, the responsibility of the NIS and clear up questions that had been raised by the EC.

"Appropriate technical experts will confirm if the project as currently designed will be able to provide data that can be relied upon by the Electoral Commission to carry out registration of voters for the 2004 elections."

The Ministry and the EC have been engaged in a debate on which body has the mandate to issue the cards.

Participants at a forum organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs said the EC had the prerogative to issue the cards. They said a body that was independent of political parties; government or Parliament should issue the cards.