Ghana Card Is A Master Stroke That Govt Must Be Applauded For …Margins Group boss

The government’s decision to institute the Ghana Card project is also highlighted as a masterstroke decision that calls for applause.

This is according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Margins Group of companies, Mr. Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr.

“We must applaud the government for evolving and implementing an electronic and biometric identity system which was first put on tender in 2003 (a contract awarded in 2006). Between 2019 and 2020, over 15 million people were successfully registered and issued with electronic identity cards during the Mass Registration Exercise,” Mr. Baiden said.

Mr. Baiden Jnr. said this in a keynote address that he delivered during this year’s Ghana 5th CEOs summit in Accra where he had been awarded the CEO of The Decade in Information and Communications Technology.

He pointed out that the card is a feature-packed asset that answers many of the digital accessory needs required to navigate the current world lifestyle made imperative by COVID-19.

 “The card can carry certificates that allow the public or private key to be stored on it and gives the holder the ability to electronically sign documents securely online,” he said.

The Ghana card is connected to a national digital registry which the Margins Group CEO said will exponentially transform the Economy.

“An Electronic National Identity register will transform our economy and exponentially increase its digital index, and grow our GDP. Citizens can access e-government services electronically and securely and make payments based on a certified legal identity that is robust, secure and prevents fraud and financial crime…,” he said.

He expressed happiness that the national ID card is part of an overall digitalization drive by the government championed by the likes of Vice President Bawumia and Communications and Digitalization Minister, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

 “Our Minster of Communications and Digitization has given a deadline for the start of SIM re-registration using the Ghana Card and is also ready to roll out the issuance of PKI certificates that will give our electronic devices, applications, websites, etc. a Digital Identity certificate that is connected to our Ghana card. This will allow citizens to facilitate electronic transactions safely on the internet whilst weeding out the 419 and Sakawa scammers. Hopefully, this will result in Ghana being whitelisted and having Ghana IP addresses with genuine certificates. This will allow our country to engage globally in the global digital market as a trusted partner,’ Mr. Baiden Jr. said.

He however called for component legislations to guide the new direction towards a digital way of life for Ghanaians.