National ID to solve ‘chaotic’ data system – MTN CEO

Telecom operators have intensified calls for the implementation of a National Identification System.

Its implementation is expected to create easier and simpler ways to manage data of all Ghanaians.

The telecom operators argue that the challenge of not having a proper national ID system in Ghana makes it difficult to generate revenue internally.

Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Ebenezer Asante stressed that the best solution to the issue will be to implement a national identification system.

“In the very complex challenges that you have presented for me, one thing that cuts across is informality, chaos, lack of planning, lack of data to manage data revenue, invisible population where they are and so on. One simple solution will cut through the clutter and it goes back to the thing I was talking about; simplicity, management,” Mr. Asante remarked as part of the on-air series of the Citi Business Festival.

“Let’s get the national identification system in the way because without it we are going nowhere.

It is very fundamental and we should not just implement a dumb kind of system but what I call like an Omni bus- one solution that can do a lot of things,” he added.

The Akufo-Addo government in January 2017, begun the processes to implement a comprehensive national identification project.

The move is in fulfillment of a long-held NPP campaign pledge to build a database of Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana.

Four Committees; Legal, Technical, Financial and Oversight are expected to spearhead the project.