The President had said at the first Media Encounter in July 2017, that the National ID system would be up and running by the end of that year.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1fTx6LBpuIc3qS7URVW5neMmhYSAyTjO”]However, 17 days into 2018, the National ID system is yet to be implemented with many calling into question, the government’s commitment to ensuring that the system works.

According to the President, the Legislative Instrument which would have ensured the implementation of the programme was reviewed by Parliament after it was concluded that it could not effectively support the system.

He, however stated that, a new Legislative Instrument had been prepared and would be submitted to Parliament when it resumes sitting later in January.

“The law under which the programme was going to be unveiled was at the last minute subjected to another review and found to be inadequate so the process has to take place and be implemented under an enabling law,” President Akufo-Addo said in response to a question posed by host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, at a Media Encounter on Wednesday marking his first year in office.

“A new L.I is ready for submission to Parliament when the House reassembles on the 23rd of January. After the 21 working days period is over, it’ll be ready to go into motion.”

The President denied any assertions that the implementation of the system was not a priority for his government, stating that a comprehensive and functional National ID system was vital for his administration.

“But it is certainly not on the back burner because it is such an important aspect of our own overall strategy going forward,” he insisted.

The Office of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, indicated in December that the National Identification Authority (NIA) would issue the National ID cards from January.

The National Identification system is one of the three key pillars on which the NPP government is seeking to capitalize and drive financial inclusion.

Aside from helping to identify Ghanaians, the policy is also to aid in formulating subsequent policies that are aimed at improving the livelihoods of Ghanaians.

But the government has postponed the implementation of the policy to 2018 after missing its September 2017 deadline.

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Delayed’ National ID still crucial to Govt’s plans – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He noted that the system, which will be one of the most advanced in the world when rolled out, currently has 16.1 billion unique addresses.

The addressing system, he said, is part of the institutional reforms by the government aimed at easing business registration and other accountability and management purposes.

“It is more advanced than the United States or the United Kingdom or Germany because they are stuck to old technology, and we are leapfrogging. We are going to a new technology; we are going to GPS-based technology”, Dr. Bawumia said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SCA8xSUzvs0MRJvqnF1EX6ZMbgeAlqZM”]The Vice President made the statement in a lecture dubbed ‘Developing Stronger Economies for the African Continent: the Missing Link’ at the 3^rd Advancement Lecture Series 2017, organised by the Institutional Advancement Office of the University of Cape Coast on Wednesday.

He explained that, the new digital addressing system, has unique postcodes for every location in Ghana, saying, “We have been able to put together 16.1 billion addresses: every five by five metres square apart in Ghana has a unique address.”

“What is even more exciting about this new addressing system is that, it was actually designed by Ghanaians in Dansoman. Our men and women are amazing, and they beat the international competition because we were wondering if our people can deliver it”, he added.

The digital addressing system is among a range of technological reforms by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, aimed at ensuring efficiency on the delivery of services.

Other similar projects include the roll-out of the National ID card as well as the paperless system adopted at the country’s ports.

–

By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Digital address system to cost $2.5m – Bawumia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He will be at the National Identification Authority’s office this morning [Friday], to go through the process as the country kicks off the renewed National Identification System (NIS) promised by his government.

The National ID scheme is expected to formalize the economy through the establishment of a national database linking the Passport Office, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana Revenue Authority among others.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority, Prof. Ken Attafuah, told the media that the second coming of the National Identification System is bound to succeed.

“This is a PPP arrangement and there is a revenue model underpinning it, and it will ensure that because to date, government is yet to invest in the National Identification System project, we cannot afford to fail. This is the second coming and it is going to be the last and everlasting,” he said.

Between July 2008 and May 2010, the National Identification Authority began mass registration of Ghanaians for the unique ID cards. A total of 11 million people in six regions were registered in the process.

Amidst various challenges, collection of the cards started later in 2011.

Few years after, some state institutions and banks rejected it as an unrecognized state identification card.

Many have called for the reproduction of new ID cards to be linked to a central database base and be used as the official state ID of any Ghanaian.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Akufo-Addo to receive ‘renewed National ID’ today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is a positive development considering how this scheme will go a long way to promote economic, political and social activities in the country, by formalising the Ghanaian economy.

The scheme with all its positive intents and purposes, however raises some potential data security and privacy challenges which need to be looked at critically by government and the entities engaged to deliver the national database, and also issue out ID cards.

First of all, any ID infrastructure requires the existence of a central database.

This will have an immense database of personal and sensitive data of all citizens registered.

The breakdown of this data includes biometric and other critical data. In the Ghanaian instance it looks like the databases of several entities such as Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Ghana Police Service will be utilised to form the core of this central database.

The potential security and privacy encroachments are enormous such that when this central database, whether compromised by outside hackers or the many insiders trusted to work with such data, leaves critical citizens data in the hands of untrusted and malicious actors.

This compromised data can be used in a myriad of negative ways such as fraud, targeted telemarketing, etc. — and this goes to impact on the security and privacy of the citizen’s data compromised.

Some of the pertinent questions regarding the security of this data includes location of storage; in Ghana or outside, are there security regulations (e.g. ISO27001) in place in the datacentres where the data will be stored, who has access to the data, what precautions are in place against misuse of the data, etc.

A second challenge worth noting is the possibility of the private sector to exploit the national ID system to invade privacy. If the private sector would be allowed not only to rely on the information on the face of the ID card but also scan or swipe it when a citizen presents their card during the provision of service, this enables the service provider to collect personal data on customers. How this customer data would be processed and stored is not known if they are not registered either as a data processor or controller with the Data Protection Commission of Ghana.

Relating to the above challenge is also a challenge around the possible use of the national ID scheme by the government as a surveillance system that creates risks to privacy and anonymity. Basically this puts citizens in a place where they contribute in their own surveillance and social control.

Another problem is the ID card itself. How assured are we that the cards would be unforgeable? Even if to assume they are unforgeable, how about the worse case of people legitimately acquiring national ID cards with fraudulent names or identities?

The requirements for a national ID system is essential, however are the security safeguards contained in the National Identification Legislation enough to provide protection for the citizenry?

Looking at the poor data keeping and security culture within government and most of private sector, calls for tougher sanctions against people who allow lose or misuse of information is encouraged. With the rapid evolving of the cyber security landscape currently even with improvements, breaches of databases will be inevitable, but measures to ensure that such problems are dealt with swiftly must also be adequate by all security standards necessary.

–

By: Hector Dotse

Speciality: Technology Security Assurance Specialist

Website: www.heconsecurity.com

The post National ID: Data security, privacy and our civil liberties [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the NIA, persons living in areas with good internet coverage will get their cards within 10 minutes of filling the appropriate forms, while those with unreliable or non-existent coverage will have the printing of theirs deferred for a short period.

[contextly_sidebar id=”v66WjAeUNbdG0dRlimIwaDLb2TbtBi3h”]“You can expect to see a card on the 15th of September, 2017 when we roll out” Prof Attafuah assured at a media interaction on Monday June 12, 2017.

“We want to implement an instant card issuance system. You register with us and within 10 minutes maximum you get the card and walk away.”

It would be recalled that the Vice President, at a meeting with key stakeholders in late January, announced government’s decision to implement three key programmes required to formalize the Ghanaian economy, and set an end of year timeline for their implementation.

They are a National Identification System, a Digital Addressing System and Interoperability between the telcos, banks and any other payment systems.

Four committees set up to analyse the various processes required to set up a national ID system, have since submitted their report, and the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has directed the NIA to immediately engage with Identity Management Systems (IMS) Limited, a private identity management company to “agree on the modalities to ensure the efficient roll-out of the National Identity System (NIS) project not later than 15th September, 2017”.

The NIA has accepted the challenge and is poised to meet the deadline, although the time it takes to issue a card will be determined by a number of factors, including internet connectivity, Prof Attafuah pointed out.

“There may be areas in this country where internet connectivity may be a challenge. In such locations, there would be deferred printing – it may be a day, it may be a couple of days. In such circumstances deferred printing may be inevitable. So there are options; people will get the cards on the 15th. Those who are able to register on the 15th, and from that day onward, anyone registering can expect to get the card instantly, because that is what we are aiming at.”

The NIA, Prof Attafuah said, is working with key stakeholders like the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), to identify areas with low or non-existent internet availability to plan appropriately for the capturing of data and issuance of cards for residents in those communities.

“We’re working with NITA and the technical committee to map out this country and colour code in terms of availability of data connectivity so that before we roll out we know where connectivity may be a problem and then to develop auxiliary measures to address those deficits in connectivity.”

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NIA to issue ‘instant’ National ID card from Sept. 15 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the project is of great importance and government must be encouraged to complete it successfully.

He posted via his Facebook page on Thursday that, “This must be seen as a matter of national interest without partisan colouration. My party, the PPP believes in this project. I have advocated for it for more than two decades. Others have also argued for it.”

The government on Thursday announced that it has begun the processes towards the implementation of a comprehensive national identification project.

The move is in fulfillment of a long-held NPP campaign pledge to build a database of Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana.

Four Committees; Legal, Technical, Financial and Oversight are expected to spearhead the project.

A statement issued by the government said, “National Identification project is expected to be completed within the first year of the NPP administration, in fulfillment of a manifesto pledge to complete the registration of all residents in Ghana under the National Identification Scheme, thereby establishing an integrated Data Warehouse of databases from key public institutions, using the National Identification System as the unique identifier for data items, and automating the processes involved in accessing public services at both national and local government offices.”

“The NPP government believes the National ID scheme would help formalize the economy through the establishment of a national database, using the National Identification System as the primary identifier, with linkages to the databases of institutions such as the Police, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Passport Office, Immigration, Courts, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA),” the statement added.

Dr. Nduom said the PPP have long advocated for the project, and believe in its prospect to ensure a disciplined and better country.

“We must all continue to encourage those charged with the responsibility to bring the project to a successful end to get it done with a high sense of urgency. Ghana will be a better, more disciplined country when the project is completed successfully,” Nduom noted.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post National ID project must be devoid of politics – Nduom appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The move is in fulfillment of a long-held NPP campaign pledge to build a database of Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana.

Four Committees; Legal, Technical, Financial and Oversight are expected to spearhead the project.

President Nana Akufo Addo had promised to complete the National Identification system that was commenced by the erstwhile Kufuor administration within its first year in office, few days after he was elected.

Nana Akufo-Addo, who was speaking at a meeting with the Private Enterprise Federation at the Ghana Institute of Management And Public Administration (GIMPA), said the system will help ensure the country has a solid database.

A statement from the presidency indicated that the “National Identification project is expected to be completed within the first year of the NPP administration, in fulfillment of a manifesto pledge to complete the registration of all residents in Ghana under the National Identification Scheme, thereby establishing an integrated Data Warehouse of databases from key public institutions, using the National Identification System as the unique identifier for data items, and automating the processes involved in accessing public services at both national and local government offices.”

“The NPP government believes the National ID scheme would help formalize the economy through the establishment of a national database, using the National Identification System as the primary identifier, with linkages to the databases of institutions such as the Police, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Passport Office, Immigration, Courts, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA),” the statement added.

The move follows a broad consultative meeting chaired by the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, where all the major stakeholders, including the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR), National Identification Authority (NIA), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ghana Revenue Authority and National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) underscored the need to have a single national database to aid policy planning and implementation.

Also in attendance were officials from the Ministry of Finance, Minister designate for Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Electoral Commission (EC), Driver Vehicle and Licence Authority (DVLA), Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GHIPSS) and industry experts.

Addressing the representatives of the key stakeholders, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia noted that there has been too much talk around the issue of national ID cards but very little effective action or results even though $50 million has been spent on the project since 2009.

A single national ID system would, among others, track immunization of children and health care of citizens, issue drivers licenses and passports linked to digital identity registry, eliminate ghost names from the civil service payroll, and reduce cost of maintaining multiple Identity databases, the Vice President stated.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t’s National ID project takes off appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Some of the girls were set to be freed in exchange for imprisoned Islamist militants, reports the BBC’s Will Ross.

Boko Haram group snatched more than 200 girls from a school on 14 April.

Nigeria’s government is under pressure to do more to tackle the group and bring about the girls’ release.

Thousands of people have died since Boko Haram began a violent campaign against the Nigerian government in 2009 and in the subsequent security crackdown.

Swap

The BBC has learned that officials have held talks with the group to secure the release of the schoolgirls.

An intermediary met Boko Haram leaders earlier this month and visited the location in north-east Nigeria where the girls were being held, says the BBC’s Will Ross in the capital, Abuja.

A deal was almost reached to set some of the girls free in exchange for the release of 100 Boko Haram members being held in detention, our correspondent says.

But the government cancelled the planned agreement shortly before the swap was due to take place.

The reasons for the withdrawal are unclear.

It came just after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan attended a meeting in Paris hosted by President Francois Hollande of France where leaders said they had agreed a “global and regional action plan”against Boko Haram.

‘All options open’

The girls, who were mainly Christian, were taken from their school in Chibok, in north-eastern Borno state and are thought to be held in a remote forested area of the state, close to the border with Chad and Cameroon.

Nigeria previously insisted it would not agree to free Boko Haram members in return for their release.

However, the information ministry had earlier said all options were on the table, after the group released a video of the girls earlier this month and suggested a swap.

The video showed 136 girls, and was interspersed with militants explaining that they had “converted” to Islam.

The UK, the US, China and France are among the countries to have sent teams of experts and equipment to help to locate them.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is reeling from continuing violence – on Sunday, 24 villagers died in a raid by suspected Boko Haram militants.

On Saturday there was another bomb in the central city of Jos where earlier in the week 118 people had died a twin car bomb attack blamed on the group.

Boko Haram was added to the UN Security Council’s al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee’s list of designated entities on Thursday at the request of Nigeria.

Source: BBC

The post Nigeria kidnapped girls: Gov’t ‘called off deal’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It will be Jonathan’s first visit since the kidnappings to Chibok village, epicentre of a growing international effort to rescue the girls. Officials said he will travel on to a regional security summit in Paris at which Boko Haram will be discussed.

Jonathan is under pressure to crush the rebels, who have killed thousands in their campaign for an Islamist state, and to free the girls, whose kidnapping has sparked global outrage.

The Nigerian government has come under criticism for its slow response to the abductions.

Jonathan asked France last week to arrange a Paris security summit with neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin, and officials from the U.S., Britain and the European Union to discuss a coordinated response.

Source: Reuters

The post Nigeria President to visit Chibok appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The group snatched the girls from their boarding school in Chibok in the lawless Borno region in the north of the country.

A former mediator of the group has told the Telegraph he believes the video, where Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau threatens to sell the girls as slaves, shows he plans to use them as ‘bargaining chips’ rather than kill them.

Shehu Sani says he believes that the footage, released on Monday, was an attempt to persuade the Nigerian government into a prisoner trade.

He told the newspaper: ‘From my knowledge of the group, to have him saying that he will sell them is proof that this issue can be resolved.

‘The group is most likely to want to attach some kind of conditions to the girls being released, such as the freeing of some of their own prisoners.’

In the video, the Boko Haram leader is seen dressed in combat fatigues standing in front of an armoured personnel carrier and two pick-up trucks mounted with sub-machine guns.

He then declares: ‘I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah.’

Shekau then takes a swipe at democracy, Western education, efforts for Muslims and Christians to live in peace and rails against non-believers in Islam.

Source: Daily Mail, UK

The post Boko Haram won’t sell or kill abducted girls appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.