The Deputy Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation William Kusi Sabi has clarified that the Ghana Cards to be issued by the National Identification Authority will cost $1.2 billion.

According to the deputy minister, the $293 million mentioned by the Executive Secretary Prof Ken Attafuah of the NIA, is the total cost for the first year of the project and not the total cost for the 15 year duration.

“The total cost for the first year is 293 million US dollars while the whole life cost of the project is estimated at 1.2 billion US dollars over 15 years.

“Ghana needs to raise only 124 million dollars to fund its initial contribution. IMS on the other hand will raise its initial 169 million dollars contribution. All subsequent costs will be covered by proceeds from the project, it is self-financing,” Mr. Kusi Sabi said when he addressed Parliament Tuesday.

His comments contradicts claims by the NIA who had claimed in a statement that released by Corporate Affairs Department of the Authority the: “The NIS project to deliver ID cards to all Ghanaians is over a period of one year. Within this period, the state is committed to $124m while the project partner is committed to $169m.

“The total project cost for the delivery of the Ghana cards is, therefore, $293m and not 1.2bn USD. This total is expected to cover the technical and operational cost that will deliver ID Cards to all Ghanaians over the one year period.”
The NIA on Tuesday began the registration and issuance of the Ghana card in Parliament.

The exercise was to have begun in parliament Monday but the MPs who showed up were left stranded as officials of the NIA failed to show up.

Meanwhile, the Minority members in Parliament have stated that they will boycott the exercise by the NIA for the new Ghana Card.

A statement signed by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu stated that the decision was taken due to the failure of the NIA to engage Members of Parliament to clarify a number of issues relating to the roll out of the exercise.

The minority is also raising questions about the cost, scope and legality of the project as well as registration requirements.

According to the minority members, until those issues are cleared by the NIA, they will not take part in the planned registration.