Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday, March 14, officially launched the Ghana Card Number System at Birth.
According to Dr. Bawumia, the launch of the system is a revolutionary step forward in the consolidation and strengthening of Ghana’s identity system.
Speaking at the launch at the Ga North Municipal Hospital, the Vice President said the integrated birth Ghana Card system also works before birth, with the mother’s records linked to the Ghana Card.
He explained that when a birth takes place in a health facility, it is recorded on the CHIPS, health center or hospital’s district health information system e-tracker and a birth notification is sent to the birth and death register. A birth registration number will then be issued, which will be sent to her e-tracker in the district’s health information system.
“Birth details and registration number data received from the Birth and Death Registry are then transmitted to the National Identification Authority from the electronic tracker of the District Health Information System, along with the photograph of the mother who has been verified as a citizen by the NIA. A Ghanaian card number is then generated for the baby and sent back to the healthcare system.
“A text message will then be sent to the mother to visit the nearest NIA or Birth and Death Registration Office to complete the process and obtain the relevant birth certificate,” Dr Bawumia said.
He pointed out that over the past few decades, the birth and death register had gone through various stages, and the initial process to digitize its records had increased the coverage rate of the birth register from 30 per cent to 70 per cent. He emphasized that.
He explained that digital tools launched in 2016 have made this possible, allowing real-time data to be uploaded from remote locations.
“We have also moved our registry to an automated platform, allowing real-time registration in all regions. Certificate issuance has been streamlined to within two hours.
“Additionally, we are integrated with Ghana’s digital payment system through the Ghana.gov platform and these changes have resulted in consistent year-on-year growth in registrations.”
The New Patriotic Party standard-bearer for the 2024 general election has clarified that birth registration will now take place at the district office where the birth took place if the child’s parents or spouse provide proof of birth (maternal and child record book). I made it. Provide biometric data for birth events.
“This means that parents have to travel long distances to the nearest Birth and Death Registration District Office, and there can be long periods of time between birth and registration, or in some cases, no registration at all. Generally results in additional economic costs.
“The absence of a unique national identification system poses significant risks, exposing us all to fraud, inefficiencies in public service delivery, challenges in implementing social programs, electoral disparities, and threats to national security.” “It makes us vulnerable to this,” he said.
Recognizing these vulnerabilities, Dr. Bawumia said Ghana established the National Identity Authority Registration Authority to register its citizens and residents.
He stressed that as of Monday, March 11, 2024, a total of 17.8 million Ghanaians have been successfully registered on the Ghana Card System.
However, the Vice President revealed that significant gaps remain in the registration of children on the Ghana Card from birth, with 17.7 million adults aged 15 and above registered.
He said the lack of integration between birth records and public awareness platforms presents a range of potential issues and risks that impact national security, voter registration, social service delivery and governance.
Commenting on the serious implications of this gap, Dr Bawumia said the government had integrated the system through collaborative efforts with the Ghana Health Service, Births and Deaths Registration Authority, Ghana Statistics Authority and the National Identification Authority.
He said the integration of data infrastructure would instantly provide every child born in Ghana with a unique identity, linking it to the identity of the mother and ensuring a place within Ghana’s identity system.
“This monumental integration effort is about more than just issuing Ghana Card numbers, it is about recognizing and affirming the rights and existence of our youngest citizens from the moment they come into this world.
“It’s about laying the foundation for their future and ensuring they have access to health, education and social services without unnecessary barriers,” he said.
Dr Bawumia stressed that the Ghana Birth Card System promises many benefits by providing documentation of legal status, social relationships, rights from birth and ensuring social protection.
He said the system would also enable effective planning of essential services such as health, education and social welfare, which support economic growth and poverty reduction.
“Generate continuous demographic data for better management and sectoral improvement of health and well-being.
“It also provides a reliable foundation for accessing advances in child health interventions and promoting health, well-being and economic development. This will improve the accuracy of child mortality statistics and district-level fertility estimates. It will be easier to calculate the value, and it will be possible to target the scale of population growth and make policy interventions,” said the NPP standard-bearer.
The Vice President clarified that the issuance of Ghana Card numbers at birth will help combat child trafficking.
“If a child is trafficked and we are able to apprehend the perpetrator, who is this child? If the child is in the NIA’s database, there is a good chance that we will find it and return it to the parents,” he said. Said.
Disclaimer: The views, comments, opinions, contributions and statements made by readers and contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Multimedia Group Limited.