The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, has claimed that the whole National Identification Card also known as GhanaCard initiative is meant to enrich a private business.
Reacting to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s address on Digitalization, Mr Adongo told Morning Starr host Francis Abban that the promotion by the Vice President is more of a business decision than national interest.
“The Ghana card travel document is a business decision. Using the Ghana Card as a passport is not for Ghana. A private business owner is benefiting. Whenever a Ghanaian uses the Ghana card, the private business owner is paid an amount of money.
“The biometric feature on the Ghana Card is owned by a private business entity. The data on the card is also owned by the same,” he reiterated.
The Vice President in delivering a statement on the theme “TRANSFORMING AN ECONOMY THROUGH DIGITALIZATION- THE GHANA STORY” on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at the Ashesi University, Berekuso in the Eastern Region disclosed a number of benefits in using the Ghana Card.
Among them are Ghanaians abroad to travel back home with Ghana, newborns to receive Ghana number and Ghana set to become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to have a national scale E-Pharmacy.
However, a group calling itself Coalition of National Youth Organizers has also described Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s speech on digitalization of the economy as a launch of his presidential bid and an attempt to market himself to Ghanaians.
The group also called on the Vice President to explain to Ghanaians how the existing digital platforms have benefited the country in terms of revenue.
According to the Group, there are a number of government E-Platforms already operational in the country so it would not be out of place if the Vice President tells users what benefits the platforms are contributing to the national economy.
“For every transfer of money from one’s bank account to their mobile money account / wallet, there is a service charge, Dr. Bawumia as the head of the economic team failed to tell us how the government is taking advantage to raise revenue.
“Again it has become evident that the telecommunications Companies are now metamorphosing into banks and insurance companies through the digital platforms. We would love to know how the government is generating revenue through this opportunity,” the Group stated in response to Dr. Bawumia’s address on Digitizing Ghana.
They further questioned why the Vice President failed in telling Ghanaians how the government is monetizing these initiatives.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
