The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwasi Pratt Jnr, says the Vice President’s comment that suggests that efforts are being put in place to make Ghana-card an e-passport is not possible.
This statement by the astute Journalist comes after the Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, while delivering a public lecture on the impact of Government’s digitalisation initiatives at the Brekuso Campus of the Ashesi University, hinted efforts by government to get the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to recognise the Ghana-Card as an e-passport by the first quarter of next year.
Bawumia said the efforts are to allow the Card to be read and verified in ICAO compliant countries and enable holders of the card to board flights to 197 countries and 44,000 airports worldwide.
Additionally, Ghanaian diasporans who are holding the Ghana-Card would not obtain visas to travel to the country.
Dr Bawumia noted that digitalisation held huge prospects for the Ghanaian youth and urged them to embrace it to propel national development.
Read Also: Akufo-Addo, Bawumia support Navrongo SHS’s 60th anniversary fundraising
Speaking to host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive Kaakyire Ofori Ayim on Monday 8th November 2021, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwasi Pratt Jnr, explained that the Ghana card acts as proof of citizenship whereas the use of passports go beyond a proof of citizenship.
According to him, the Ghana-card cannot serve as e-passports as stated by Dr Bawumia since both IDs serve different purposes.
“The Ghana card acts as proof of citizenship whereas the use of passports go beyond a proof of citizenship. So how can the Ghana card serve the purposes of the passport?. If you think I am wrong, just wait when the time is due, you don’t go to Heathrow Airport, just go to Kotoka Airport and see if you you will be allowed onboard. I know there are 195 countries so I do not know why the vice Preident said there are 197 countries,” Kwasi Pratt Jnr told Kaakyire Ofori Ayim.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu | [email protected]
