The Minister of the Interior, Mr. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has called for stronger legal and regulatory frameworks to support the success of digital ID systems, emphasising the importance of protecting data privacy and ensuring security.
He noted that involving citizens, the private sector, and civil society was crucial in the design and implementation processes.
Speaking at the opening of the ECOWAS Validation Workshop on Stakeholders’ Engagement and Foundational ID Systems Interoperability Strategies on Tuesday in Accra, he emphasised the significant role of digital identification in promoting economic empowerment, regional integration, and inclusive development across West Africa.
He highlighted Ghana’s progress in this area and revealed that more than 17 million Ghanaians have enrolled in the National Identification System.
“The Ghana Card, which is the country’s flagship identification credential, has been integrated with major national systems, including the Social Security and National Insurance Trust, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he stated.
The Minister said that interoperable identification systems are no longer optional but essential for economic advancement, particularly within frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
The Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, described the workshop as a platform for stakeholders to review and validate key strategies for achieving ID system interoperability across ECOWAS member states.
He expressed appreciation to the former President of ECOWAS, President John Dramani Mahama, for his longstanding dedication to the agenda, reflecting Ghana’s leadership in advancing regional unity and development.
The West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) programme aims to provide unique identification to individuals across the ECOWAS region, paving the way for a more integrated and inclusive future.
