Ken Attafuah must resign - Dr. Aidoo

Policy Analyst for Kra Consult, Dr. Daniel Ato Aidoo, has called for the resignation of Prof. Ken Attafuah as the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority, citing bloated cost and failure to roll out the national identification card project in a timeous manner.

In a post on his Facebook timeline titled "Ogyakrom Diary: Ken Attafuah, bloated ID cost, and resignation", Dr. Aidoo wrote "In the face of several failed attempts to roll out a national identification card through a bloated cost, it is only proper to call for the resignation of Prof. Ken Attafuah, Executive Secretary, National Identification Authority".

"It is mind-boggling how Ghana's identification card process, which is aimed at confirming identity and distinguish Ghanaians from citizens of other countries will cost a whooping $1.2 billion. It is also surprising, how a national identification card which is just a plasticized card with information digitically embedded in it will cost that much in a country, which is still struggling to achieve some economic successes through fiscal modifications and discipline", he opined.

According to Dr. Aidoo, concerns raised about the cost of this project are genuine, and that Dr. Ahadzie, the former executive secretary of NIA, and MP Kennedy Agyepong, were right in pointing out that it is too high. The issuance of a national identification card should not, and cannot attract such a huge cost.

Dr. Aidoo explained that National Identification cards follow similar standards globally with biometric traits, and they are stored in a database. Straightforward, adding "It defies decency and logic how it cost the United States $2.5 billion with a population of over 327 million to undertake the same exercise through a decentralized process, as against Ghana's $1.2 billion with a population of about 30 million, which is only centralized in the capital, Accra. This does not make economic sense".

Dr. Aidoo wrote "There are more questions than answers, and one can only inquire whether this Ghana card will also be examined at the "Gate of Heaven" to warrant such an expensive cost when the government has not done enough to expand a Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty program, which can address short-term poverty and deepen long-term human capital management and development".

In reference to Member of Ghana's Parliament, Kennedy Agyepong, Dr. Aidoo explained that he can be garrulous periodically, but it is equally important a political party which he belongs to takes him serious, if it is, indeed, true that he invited Indian investors who were willing to execute the Ghana identification card project for a lesser fee of $50 million.

Under ex-President John D. Mahama, the Minister for Power, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, had to resign due to many failed promises to end load shedding, which he said will be solved before the end of 2015. We do not have to examine the merits and demerits of Dr. Donkor's action. But it is imperative Prof. Attafuah learns from this gracious example, and resign, Dr. Aidoo emphasized.

Delving into the consolidation of political power, Dr. Aidoo explained "In the same way, the ruling government must understand, that the constructed concept of political party membership is still relevant within the framework of varying notions of mobilization of resources to gain power and management of normative expectations, saying "while recognizing that challenges still exist, the government should also find a way to manage a party member like Kennedy Agyepong, who is strongly attached to the twin project of "Ghana First" and exploration of business opportunities in the local economy".

Ghana's leadership should initiate a new agenda to maximize its unique value and act through osmosis within the governance system's much touted transparency by calling some appointees to order. The mistakes are too much, Dr. Aidoo concluded.