Data Capture Bill goes through second reading

Page 17, November 21 2007

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Data Capture (Registration, Protection of Personal Information and Privacy) Bill placed before Parliament on October 25, 2007, passed through its second reading stage of passage yesterday.
The bill seeks to establish a national identity register through the creation of a central database of individuals uniquely linked to a proven identifier.
It would also ensure an automated identification mechanism for a scheme of registration of individuals for the issuance of national identity cards, protection of the personal information of the individual collected by the National Identification Authority (NIA) for the exercise and protection of the privacy of individuals.
The Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, moved for the second reading of the bill.
He was supported by Mr Kojo Armah, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Mpiani enumerated the importance of the national identification programme and added that its successful implementation would depend on the passage of the bill.
He said the provision of national identity cards would enable other countries to have confidence in the Ghanaian passports and other documents.
Seconding the motion, Mr Armah said the commitment of the government to the creation of a national identification system peaked in the passage of Act 707, which established the NIA.
He added that in pursuant to the establishment of the authority, it had become necessary to provide a legal regime for the implementation of the objectives of the authority, hence the introduction of the bill.
The Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Avenor-Ave, Mr Doe Adjaho, called for measures to ensure that non-Ghanaians were not given the identity to enable them to vote during elections.
Other MPs who contributed to the debate were Mr David Oppon-Kusi (Ofoase-Ayirebi) and Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua (Biakoye)