By: Alexander Afriyie
In recent times, Ghana has been grappling with the issue of multiple passports being issued to the same individual, raising concerns about the integrity of the country’s biometric database. The High Court in Accra has even issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Director of Passports for failing to comply with a court order to explain why an individual standing trial has been issued with multiple passports.
This development has sparked a heated debate about the effectiveness of Ghana’s biometric system, which is supposed to ensure that each individual has a unique identity. The system, which uses fingerprints and other biometric data, is designed to prevent duplicate identities and ensure that each person can only hold one passport.
However, the issuance of multiple passports to the same person with the same fingerprints has raised questions about the accuracy and reliability of the biometric database. If the database is truly biometrically legit, how can multiple passports be issued to the same person with the same fingerprints?
The Implications of Multiple Passports.
The issuance of multiple passports to the same individual has serious implications for national security, immigration, and identity verification. It can lead to identity theft, fraud, and other forms of abuse. It can also compromise the integrity of the country’s immigration system, making it difficult to track and monitor the movement of individuals.
The Need for Transparency and Accountability.
The incident has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the passport issuance process. The government must take immediate action to investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The public must also be assured that the biometric database is secure and reliable.
The Way Forward.
To prevent such incidents in the future, the government must take steps to strengthen the biometric database and ensure that the passport issuance process is transparent and accountable. This can be achieved by:
Conducting a thorough audit of the biometric database to identify and eliminate duplicate identities
– Implementing stricter verification processes to ensure that each individual can only hold one passport
– Providing training to passport officials to prevent human error and abuse
– Establishing an independent oversight body to monitor the passport issuance process and investigate any irregularities
By taking these steps, Ghana can ensure that its biometric database is secure and reliable, and that the passport issuance process is transparent and accountable. Alexander Afriyie