Reliable data is Ghana’s goldmine to drive digital economy – Margins

In an era where the world is swiftly transitioning towards digitization, data has become essential for driving the digital economy, Mr  Moses K. Baiden, the Chief Executive Officer of Margins ID Systems, emphasized this during a visit by the Ministry of Communication and its agencies.

The visit provided these entities an opportunity to observe the intricate processes involved in the production of the Ghana Card and understand the various purposes the database can serve.

The visit included representatives from various agencies, such as:

• Ghana Digital Centres
• Cyber Security Authority
• Data Protection Commission
• Ghana Domain Names Registry
• Ghana Post
• National Communication Authority
• National Information Technology Agency
• Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications
• Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT
• Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission

Margins ID Systems, through its Intelligent Card Production System (ICPS), is the technical partner to the National Identification Authority, responsible for producing the Ghana Cards to the representatives through its processes .

Mr. Baiden stressed the importance of a secure biometric database for the success of any digital economy.

He emphasized that effective digitization of services can significantly reduce citizen stress, lower transaction costs, and enhance the government’s ability to deliver services efficiently. He demonstrated how the secure biometric database supports identity verification and numerous applications crucial for the country’s digital transformation.

“A digital economy cannot succeed without a secure biometric database,” Mr Baiden stated, highlighting the necessity of accuracy and security in data management.

He pointed out that digitization is a game-changer, offering reduced costs and improved service delivery.

This visit marks a significant step in strengthening Ghana’s digital infrastructure, reinforcing the country’s commitment to leveraging technology for economic growth and enhanced public service delivery.

Mr Baiden believes that Ghanaian companies can go global, stating, “We must own and price our resources in a way that benefits the country.”

“The vision is to build a company with cutting-edge technology that sits between the material and immaterial world,” Mr Baiden added.

He explained that identification connects people to data, with documents now digitized rather than physical.

The system provides a unique identity, preventing fraud through duplicate identities.

Mr Baiden noted that in order to commit a crime, criminals must disguise themselves digitally or physically, making ID a priority for building a clean society.

Mr Baiden emphasized that the legal process determines how secure an ID is, with technology always needing to follow the law.

He urged Ghanaians to resist institutions from photocopying their Ghana Cards for transactions and instead use verification methods prescribed by the National Identification Authority (NIA).

The improper use of the Ghana Card, such as photocopying or sharing digital copies, can lead to identity theft and fraud.

Mr Baiden highlighted that any reproduction of the Ghana Card exposes the card owner to these risks.

He explained that the NIA system requires individuals to present themselves and provide fingerprint verification, generating an audit code linked to the transaction, ensuring high security and authenticity in identity verification.

Mr Baiden pointed out that Ghana’s primary challenge in data protection and identification is not data collection or technology but attitudinal and enforcement issues.

He urged institutions to fully familiarize themselves with the NIA system to make informed decisions and adopt best practices.

During the visit, officials from the participating agencies asked questions about the process, which were answered by the top management of the company.

Source:classfmonline.com