Challenges of National Identification in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana has grappled with its inability to have vital statistics or proper citizen identification system due to the absence of accurate and updated data. This issue has been the bane of governments since independence. Ghana noticing this started with an idea of identifying its citizens in 1973. This was not successful and several opportunities have been tried till in 2003, a national identification authority was established to resolve this issue. The exercise began in 2006 and was completed in 2011. Regrettably, the implementation phase of the national identification experiment is bogged down and it is being perceived as a white elephant programme. These came to light through interviews from officials with the National Identification Authority, press conferences and press releases all by the Authority. This paper looks at the challenges that have been encountered and are still being encountered.