An Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) policy analyst, Emmanuel Bensah, says the proposal by leaders within the sub-region to abolish residence permits for member states and introduce biometric Identification Cards (ID Card) is a \u2018\u2019good idea\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019This will help complement attempts to monitor and evaluate the kind of people who pass through the boarders all the time; in principle I think it\u2019s a good idea,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019\u2026 the abolition of residence permit is one of the key principles of ensuring that there is a free movement for all West African citizens,\u2019\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Mr. Bensah explained that the intended abolition of the residence permit is long overdue. \u2018\u2019It should have been a very important element in the agenda a long time ago; even before the Boko Haram came up.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
He noted that free movement is one of the pioneering things that ECOWAS has done over the years. But the introduction of a biometric ID will guide how ECOWAS integration should be prosecuted.<\/p>\n
According to him ECOWAS should also ensure that the Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism is effective and efficient.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2019It [ECOWAS biometric ID card] is supposed to be a one stop shop; which will override any passport or ID showed at the borders currently,\u2019\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
The 45th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of States and Government on-going in Accra, is expected to among others discuss the introduction of biometric ID cards within the sub-region, to allow for free movement and trading amongst members.<\/p>\n
However, Mr Francis Palmdeti, Head of Public Relations of the Ghana Immigration Service in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show<\/strong> on Thursday said it will not be prudent to do away with the residence permit.<\/p>\n \u2018\u2019… I think that with the residence permit issue that will be a bit more challenging for us [GIS]; the structures we have at the moment to deal with that kind of situation, I am not sure are robust enough,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n According to Palmdeti, Ghana does not have a good house numbering system; he suggested that abolishing the residence permit system is not a good idea for Ghana now.<\/p>\n ”As it is stands now I don’t think that the structure and things we [Ghana] have can adequately support the policy [ECOWAS biometric ID],” he stated.<\/p>\n ”If you ask me, I will think that the policy will have to be delayed or staggered; we shouldn’t go into a quick acceptance of the proposal or the recommendation,” Mr Palmdeti added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Evans Effah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) policy analyst, Emmanuel Bensah, says the proposal by leaders within the sub-region to abolish residence permits for member states and introduce biometric Identification Cards (ID Card) is a \u2018\u2019good idea\u2019\u2019. \u2018\u2019This will help complement attempts to monitor and evaluate the kind of people who pass through the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":9470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[317,38],"yoast_head":"\n