The National Identification Authority has explained it opted for the manual verification of applicants for the Ghana Card because that helps officials to easily verify information of individuals.

According to the Corporate Communications Director of the NIA, Francis Pamdeti, the verification approach taken, which involves the use of a dummy card, does not undermine the exercise in any way.

In an interview with Citi News, he said: “after one has signed that dummy ID card or thumbprint it as an indication of having received their card, we send all the albums back and we scan the QR code, when the QR code is scanned, that information is put together in a software and linked with the issuing system which indicates that the cards have been issued.”

Mr Palmdeti further noted that the card is activated the first time the holder uses it.

“When the card is issued, the card is then activated when the card is utilized or when the card is verified by a different agency. So the first time the card is used, our system recognizes that the card is being used for the first time. It is something that is done everywhere, it is called post-issuance activation and it will not undermine the national identification system.”

He was quick to add that the Ghana Card registration exercise is not linked to the Electoral Commission’s activities, noting that the two institutions have separate mandates.

“We are not working for the EC or working necessarily towards the EC, we have a mandate because the NIA is an entity on its own. The law that governs NIA indicates that we must create a master identity register and also issue cards to eligible individuals; so that is our mandate.”

“These cards have mandatory uses, the law prescribes some services which the cards must be used to access and without the card, you can’t access these services and for us it is extremely important that Ghanaians receive the card to be able to access these services. The EC has its mandate and we also have our mandate; so, we are focusing on executing our mandate,” he added.