Can't We Give The Mahama-Led Ndc Government A Little Credit?

"I have, at the outset, to thank sincerely our departing President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, for his service to our nation. He stepped into the breach of national leadership at a delicate moment in the country’s history, with the death in office, for the first time, of a sitting president, the late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills. He has since steered the ship of state with conviction. His elegant, dignified acceptance of the verdict of the people on 7th December, 2016, will, without doubt, receive the approval of history, for it has contributed significantly to the process of democratic consolidation in Ghana. I wish him and his family well".

I was so happy when the President in his inaugural speech, made the above statement. That was a wonderful meal he offered Ghanaians across the divide that day. "Give credit where credit is due" and we must always acknowledge someone's contribution or ability. After listening to H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, I got the impression that he was going to commend his predecessor for his achievements whenever the opportunity arises. The President has sharply departed from what impression he created in his address. He has adopted the old propaganda fashion where successors deliberately failed to recognise achievements of their predecessors. The President recently inaugurated the National Identification Card and in his speech, deliberately credited himself with an achievement he inherited from his predecessor Mr John Mahama and his administration. In his address when he opened a multi- purpose Vessel Traffic Management Information System ( VTIMIIS) in Accra, he announced that his government was going to make sure that Ghanaians have a common platform for issuing identification cards that would serve various statutory needs. He said, by integrating the various statutory ID cards issued in Ghana the country will enhance efficiency and also minimise use of scarce national resources.

In 2016, on many platforms he indicated that the country will finally have a primary database system for citizens and every citizen will have access to a national identification card. This assurance was contained in the party's 2016 manifesto highlights.

There are few facts we need to know to guide our discussions

NPP did not play any role in the NIA system they launched today. Infact, they have not even signed a contract. As it stands now, they are relying on the contract signed in 2013..

The system or the central site for the registration came to Ghana in 2015.

Preparation has since been ongoing since 2015 which includes, Porting of Data from the legacy system to the new one, designing of the Smart Card Specification, Holding meetings with user agencies to harmonize biometric system,designing of the application forms etc.

Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the new system was performed from 13th to 15th December 2015...

NPP as a party NEVER Contributed to anything.
To facilitate smooth and quick implementation of this policy, the Mahama-led administration built the National Data Center the largest in West Africa in West Africa. The center was established to promote an integrated use of ICT to improve efficiency and transparency in governance and facilitate storage, management and dissemination of data for both public and private establishments.