Ignore ‘fake’ Ghana Cards of Minority MPs on social media - NIA

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has explained it has not issued national identity cards [Ghana Card] to Members of Parliament in the Minority.

On Saturday, some people circulated information on social media that even though Minority Members of Parliament had publicly announced a boycott of the registration for Ghana Cards, some of them have clandestinely gone to register and received their cards.

Some photocopies of cards with some details of MPs like Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka [Asawasi], Isaac Adongo [Bolga Central] and James Agalga [Builsa North MP], among others were put on social media.

The said cards, however, had details different from what the NIA was issuing. For instance, the Ghana Card has "Republic of Ghana, National Identity Card" written at the top but the ones put on social media and said to be that of the said MPs had "ECOWAS Indentity Card" written at the top.

Some of the said MPs have since reacted and described the information on social media as "fake".

On Sunday morning, the Corporate Affairs Department of the NIA issued a statement to clarify.

Below is a copy of the NIA statement:

PRESS RELEASE

FAKE GHANA CARD PICTURES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has noticed with profound regret pictures circulating on social media purporting to be photos of Ghana Cards issued to some Minority Members of Parliament by NIA, following their alleged secret registration for the cards. The NIA wishes to put the following facts on record for the attention of the general public:

1. NIA has no evidence of having registered any Minority MP;

2. NIA has not issued a Ghana Card to any Minority MP;

3. NIA has no evidentiary basis to consider that it issued the purported Ghana Cards;

4. Neither the A.g Executive Secretary nor any NIA authorised Registration Official has anything to do with the creation and circulation of the said pictures which can only be photoshoped.

5. The purported Personal Identification Numbers on the cards fall completely outside the unique numbering system and scope of NIA.

6. The pictures on the cards also don’t conform to NIA picture requirements.

7. NIA is acutely mindful of its obligations to respect and protect the integrity of all personal data entrusted into its care by the citizenry. Effectively ensuring all-round compliance with data protection laws and policies will remain a core concern of NIA; and

8. NIA is a creature of statute and is determined to obey the existing laws of the Republic of Ghana in implementing the National Identification System Project. It has no need to, and will never resort to any unfair, devious and illegal methods of persuasion in its bid to get all Ghanaians to register for the Ghana Card to ensure social and economic inclusion.

The Authority therefore states emphatically that the said CARDS ARE FAKE and should be disregarded.

The security, confidentiality and protection of all data in our custody therefore remains assured.

While this statement is meant to deny the Authority’s knowledge, involvement or connection with the fake cards, the Authority will soon issue a comprehensive statement covering the technical and operational processes involved in the issuance of the Ghana Card.