Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Yayra Koku, has announced that a proposed amendment to the National Identification Authority (NIA) Act 707, if passed, would permanently place the NIA under the Ministry of the Interior, a move he deems critical for national security.
The proposed change, he argued, would also grant security agencies access to the NIA’s database, aligning its operations with the country’s security framework.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, the NIA boss lamented that the current law has hindered crucial collaboration with law enforcement.
“Act 707 did not make provision to integrate the National Identification Authority within the security framework of the country, resulting in limited collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies,” Koku stated.
“Issues of national identity are a national security issue.”
According to him, the frequent change in ministerial oversight has also created operational hurdles.
In the past, the NIA has been under the Ministry of State in charge of Public Services, the Ministry of Communications, and the Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation, before its current placement under the Ministry of the Interior. Koku noted that this instability has disrupted the Authority’s ability to form stable partnerships.
“The frequent restructuring has created operational inefficiencies,” he explained. Permanently placing the NIA under the Ministry of the Interior, he believes, would help “establish the necessary collaboration in the enforcement of its operations.”
He added that the proposed amendment aims to rectify these issues, providing a stable foundation for the NIA to better serve both citizens and the nation’s security apparatus.
Below is the full statement
With the new amendment of NIA Act 707, if passed by parliament will place the National Identification Authority permanently under the Ministry responsible for the Interior, grant security agencies access to the database of the Authority and align its operations to that of National Security.
This amendement has become necessary because Act 707 did not make provision to integrate the National Identification Authority within the security framework of the country, resulting in limited collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence
agencies. Remember that issues of National Identity is a National security issue.
Again, Act 707 did not place NIA under any Ministry and leaves the determination of the Ministry to the Government of the day. Under past Governments, the Authority has oscillated between the Ministry of State in charge of public services, the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation and currently, the Ministry of the Interior.
The frequent restructuring has created operational inefficiencies and disrupted the ability of the Authority to establish stable partnerships with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Placing NIA permanently under the Ministry of Interior will assist the Authority in establishing the necessary collaboration in the enforcement of its operations.
One benefit of granting security agencies access to the database (access is DEFINED) is that police officers can easily track suspects by writing on their cards.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
