By Karen Tei,Myjoyonline 21am

Copyright myjoyonline

The Executive Director of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Wisdom Yayra Koku, has said that the national biometric identity card, the Ghana Card, also serves as an international travel card, or e-passport, confirming past assertions by the previous government.

Despite the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s approval of the card as an e-passport, some key members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) questioned and doubted the then Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who championed the process and made the announcement.

In the latest twist, the NDC government’s new head at the NIA has admitted that the Ghana Card is indeed also an e-passport.

“The Ghana Card has three profiles on it. The e-ID, e-passport, and e-wallet,” he explained.

“The e-passport has already been activated, and the next one we want to do is e-wallet,” he added.

Many Ghanaians, since ICAO’s approval, have been using the Ghanacard as an e-passport to travel to Ghana from abroad and also for international travel within the ECOWAS zone.

Yayra Koku’s admission, however, has also vindicated Dr. Bawumia, following the scepticism raised by some key members of the NDC.