Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has claimed that two NDC members of Parliament have secretly registered for the Ghana card contrary to the collective stance of the minority on the issue.
In an interview with Starr News’ Ibrahim Alhassan, Mr. Mensah-Bonsu said the two begged the NIA officials not to disclose their identities.
He, however, added that the individuals in question are different from the earlier photos that popped up on social media bearing the names of some MPs.
“Even when they are making that passionate appeal, some of them have gone ahead and registered. Last Friday when I went there to do my own, there were two of them with me. I won’t mention their names because they themselves had indicated to the officers that they shouldn’t unveil their identities which explains why they didn’t do it at where the people were doing it near the chamber.
“They chose to come to the restaurant to do it. Why did they opt to come to the restaurant? They wanted to have some secrecy. I won't mention their names now until push comes to shove,” he claimed.
The Minority has maintained using passports and birth certs alone as proof of identity for the acquisition of the card will de-nationalise many Ghanaians since scores in the rural areas of the country do not have either of the requirement. They have therefore refused to register for the cards and called on their members to also stay off.
Meanwhile, former President John Kufuor has backed calls by the Minority saying the Voter ID card must be added to the requirements for the Ghana card.
“Documents that will help identify a citizen as a citizen will be sovereign authority in him or her so if your voter ID is not incorporated…I think it should be added,” the former President noted when officials of the National Identification Authority went to his home to register him for the card.