Former president Jerry John Rawlings has said his decision to register for the Ghana Card is not a subtle jab against the Minority’s stance against the process.
The Minority has maintained using passports and birth certificates alone as proof of identity for acquisition of the card will de-nationalise many Ghanaians since scores in the rural areas of the country do not have either of the requirement. The minority has therefore refused to register for the cards and called on their members to also stay off.
However, Mr. Rawlings who is founder of the NDC has registered for the card. The former military leader received his card on Tuesday when officials of the National Identification Authority went to his house to register him.
The Minority in Parliament has downplayed suggestions that the decision by former President JJ Rawlings to register for the Ghana card weakens their opposition to the requirements for the card.
Reacting to the claims, Mr. Rawlings said: “The office wishes to state that it is spurious to suggest that former President Rawlings made a call against the minority or the party.
“The former President urges all stakeholders, especially the National Identification Authority and both the Minority and Majority caucuses in Parliament to deliberate dispassionately on the concerns, many of which are legitimate, in a bid to bring sanity into our democratic process and ensure that all eligible Ghanaians benefit from the process,” a statement from his office added.
RAWLINGS URGES STAKEHOLDERS TO RE-EXAMINE NATIONAL I.D. CARD CONCERNS
The attention of the office of His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings has been drawn to publications in sections of the media and on social media platforms insinuating that his decision to register for the National Identity card was a call to members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to disregard the position taken by the party and the minority in Parliament.
The office wishes to state that it is spurious to suggest that former President Rawlings made a call against the minority or the party.
The principle of Ghana having a valid Identity Card System is what the former President is committed to and he respects positions taken to ensure that the process is transparent and easily accessible to all.
The former President urges all stakeholders, especially the National Identification Authority and both the Minority and Majority caucuses in Parliament to deliberate dispassionately on the concerns, many of which are legitimate, in a bid to bring sanity into our democratic process and ensure that all eligible Ghanaians benefit from the process.
Signed:
Kobina Andoh Amoakwa (Communications Directorate)