Enock Nyarko, a political analyst, has clarified the true position of the GhanaCard as an e-passport by analyzing comments made by the Vice President regarding the card's status as a globally recognized e-passport by ICAO, as well as a recent statement made by Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
The Foreign Minister told Parliament earlier this week that the GhanaCard cannot be used as an e-passport to travel to other countries, but many people, particularly in the media, misinterpreted her statement to mean that the GhanaCard is not an e-passport at all, even though Ghanaian citizens are already using it to board flights into the country.
Following the misunderstanding and misconception, Nyarko demonstrates that both the Vice President and the Foreign Minister were on the same page and did not contradict each other.
He juxtaposes statements from the Vice President and the Foreign Minister, which affirm the GhanaCard's position as an e-passport that Ghanaians may use to travel home, as well as the card's restrictions, such as the inability to travel to another nation unless bilateral agreements are established.
The following is the complete article:
This is a condensed version of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's remarks on the Ghana card.
He began by stating that if you have a Ghana card, you may be identified anywhere in the world. There is an application that can be used to verify you even if you do not have your card, as long as you have been registered on the Ghana card.
The Ghana card is classified as an e-passport since it incorporates biometrics that may be used to verify a traveler's identification. This was made clear from the start of the Ghana card's distribution. It's only a matter of common sense. Prof. Ken Attefuah has stated this several times, most recently in 2019. Google it
(https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ghana-Card-could-be-passport-to-Europe-Attafuah-746800).
He went on to say that the government has been working with the ICAO to internationally activate the Ghana card's e-passport aspect/function.
Which ICAO has acknowledged the Ghana card as a recognized travel document and has activated it?
According to him, by the end of the first quarter of 2022, the Ghana card will be recognized worldwide as an e-passport that can be scanned and identified at all ICAO compliance borders, which include 197 nations and 4,000 airports.
This is straightforward and obvious. The fact that your nation has been admitted as a member of organizations such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and others does not imply you may enter the country and do anything you want. Countries will be responsible for negotiating their own agreements with other members.
As a result, the ICAO has recognized the Ghana card as a valid travel document. Ghana must now work with ICAO member countries to get acceptance.
Members who hold a Ghana Card, like others, will have to negotiate with us before they may use it to enter Ghana.
Because it has to fulfill ECOWAS standards for approval, the Ghana card is also an ECOWAS card. Do you consider yourself citizens of all ECOWAS member states? Or can you accomplish whatever you could do in Ghana in any member country? You can only do certain things that ECOWAS allows member nations to do at a minimum; if a country wants more, it must engage into bilateral arrangements with other member countries.
He went on to say that holders of the Ghana card will be able to board any airline to Ghana. Yes, we've seen people arrive in Ghana with their Ghana cards?
He never stated that Ghanaians may use the Ghana card to travel anyplace.
And, once the Ghana card is combined with Ghana immigration data, he added, Ghanaians in the diaspora would not need to apply for visas to visit Ghana.
It is now up to Ghana to persuade governments to adopt the Ghana card as a valid travel document.
This is a summary of what the Minister of Foreign Affairs said. So, how did Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia be caught lying or betrayed?
This is a short timeline of events.
Is it necessary to just follow the herd in order to feel included? What is it about this straightforward message that you don't get?
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