NIA should collaborate with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to deliver mandate – Manhyia North MP

Member of parliament for Manhyia North constituency, Collins Owusu Amankwaa has called for a collaboration between the National Identification Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for effective and comprehensive delivery of the former’s mandate.

The National Identification Authority(NIA) was established by Act 2006 (Act 707) with the core mandate of registering all Ghanaian citizens both resident and non-resident (those in the Diaspora). “In order for the NIA to be effective and comprehensively deliver their mandated Functions and Powers in accordance with the Act 707, there is the need for the NIA to closely collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for accurate data collection, processing and storage of Ghanaians in the Diaspora so that no Ghanaian citizen is left behind as far as the management of Ghana’s National Database is concerned,” Mr. Amankwaa told 3news.com in an interview.

To buttress his point, the Manhyia North MP said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be able to provide accurate information about Ghanaians living in other countries to the NIA. He stated that this arrangement will compel the NIA to set up satellite branches or units at Ghana’s missions abroad.

“Our national population database should be managed by the NIA and should not be limited to only resident Ghanaians but it must include non-resident Ghanaians in fulfilment of Act 707.”

He also emphasised that effective collaboration between the NIA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will help the nation to determine the accurate total population of Ghanaians both resident and non-resident at any given time. He commended the president for what he describes as a visionary move.

“President Akufo-Addo indeed deserves commendation for the visionary role of resourcing the NIA to carry out its core functions.

This laudable agenda to transform the NIA will help the nation in the planning and execution of well informed developmental projects and programmes to the benefit of all Ghanaians both home and abroad,” Mr. Collins noted.

He described the appointment of Professor Ken Attafuah as the CEO of the NIA as laudable.

“I do believe that a competent Governing Board too will be constituted by President Akufo-Addo to assist the Executive Secretary to bring about a total transformation in the administration, operations, finance and management of the National Identification Authority.”

He took a swipe at the opposition NDC for neglecting the National Identification Authority. “I am very sad that the incompetent NDC government neglected the NIA for 8 years but thanks to President Akufo-Addo for revamping the NIA,” he stated.