President Akufo-Addo has criticized the Minority in Parliament for boycotting the ongoing Ghana card registration in Parliament.
He has also described as “extremely unfortunate” the caucus’ claims that the ongoing process would denationalize citizens.
Delivering an address at the 2018 Ashesi University congregation, Akufo-Addo said he strongly believes that the use of birth certificates and passports as proof of citizenship for the Ghana card registration was most appropriate.
READ: Photo: Flagstaff House guard arrested for armed robbery, rape
The Minority in Parliament boycotted the Ghana card registration process for Parliamentarians citing among other reasons the use of only birth certificates and passports as proof of citizenship could denationalise some Ghanaians.
“We remain opposed to the restriction of identification requirements for registration to Passports and Birth Certificates. Our analysis show that this will prevent about 23 million Ghanaians from obtaining the Ghana Card and deprive them of any benefit thereof,” a statement issued by Haruna Iddrisu said.
In subsequent media interactions, the minority said the process would lead to denationalization of millions of Ghanaians.
READ: Mobile money outstrips cheques in non-cash retail payments
The minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu later said, they will file processes at the Supreme Court for an interpretation on whether or not voters’ ID card can be used as proof of nationality for the registration and issuance of the Ghana card, which they believe will be a better way of proving citizenship.
But President Akufo-Addo, while commenting on the matter said, “I do not think that there are more credible basic document requirements for establishing nationality or citizenship than a birth certificate or a passport. An appropriate acceptable mechanism has been provided in the law to verify the claims of those who have neither.”
Akufo-Addo urged the minority to stop politicizing the process and help the NIA quickly go through the process.
READ: No ballot papers – New Juaben South NDC elections called off
“What then are we to make of the outrage being orchestrated by some high ranking leaders of the opposition and some members of the minority in parliament when all the evidence points to the their enthusiastic support of the national identity register amendment bill when it came before them in the House. I pray that we abandon giving politics a bad name and support this exercise to proceed rapidly to a successful end,” he added.
He further noted that he was confident security agencies will deal with persons who attempt to impede the registration process in the country.
Executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashaiman constituency threatened to disrupt the registration process in the constituency if the NIA insists on the use of only birth certificates and passports as the proof of citizenship.
But Akufo-Addo said the country’s law enforcement agencies will be able to adequately deal with such “ill-conceived, destructive adventures.”
“The language of denationalization or threats of civil war are to say the least extremely unfortunate. I am confident that the good sense of the Ghanaian people the vigilance of the law enforcement agencies will together be sufficient to defeat any ill-conceived, destructive adventure for achieving narrow parochial interest. The lust for power should not cloud one’s sense of judgement. To call yourself a Ghanaian means you must be responsible citizen,” he said.