Data is the new gold – Margins ID Systems boss

The Chief Executive Officer of Margins ID Systems, Moses K. Baiden, has described data as the new gold to drive the digital economy the country is building.

In an era when the world is swiftly transitioning to digitisation, he said, data is essential for driving the digital economy.

Mr. Baiden said this during a visit by the Ministry of Communication and its agencies.

The visit provided the ministry and its agencies an opportunity to observe first-hand intricate processes involved in the Ghana Card’s production and understand  various purposes the database can serve.

The participating agencies were 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 and the Postal & Courier Services Regulatory Commission.

Margins ID Systems is the company behind the Intelligent Card Production System (ICPS) – Ghana Cards’ technical partners.

Mr. Baiden, a prominent figure in the identity industry, stressed that a secured biometric database is crucial for the success of any digital economy.

He emphasised that effective digitisation of services can significantly reduce the stress citizens endure, lower transaction costs and enhance government’s ability to deliver services more efficiently.

Mr. Baiden demonstrated how the secure biometric database supports not only the identity verification process but also a myriad of applications crucial for the country’s digital transformation.

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

He pointed out that digitising services is a game-changer, offering numerous benefits such as reduced costs and improved service delivery.

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

He is of the belief that Ghanaian companies can go global: “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,” he added.

Mr. Baiden explained that identification connects people to data and documents are no longer physical but digitised.

He noted that the system provides a unique identity because the base of fraud is to duplicate an identity.

According to him, in order to commit a crime, the criminal has to wear a mask digitally or physically to harm public and private resources.

Therefore, he said, government prioritised ID as the first step in building a clean society.

Mr. Baiden said the legal process determines how secure an ID is because the technology must always follow the law.

He appealed for Ghanaians to resist institutions photocopying their Ghana Cards for transactions.

Instead, citizens should insist on verification methods prescribed by the National Identification Authority (NIA).

This call to action aims to enhance the security of personal data and ensure the national identification system’s integrity as Ghana advances toward a robust digital economy.

Mr Baiden highlighted that improper use of the Ghana Card, such as photocopying or sharing digital copies, can enable criminals to use others’ identities to commit fraud and other crimes.

“Any reproduction of the Ghana Card exposes the card owner to identity theft,” he noted, emphasising the importance of adhering to NIA guidelines to protect citizens’ identities.

He explained that the NIA system requires individuals to present themselves and provide fingerprint verification, which generates an audit code linked to the transaction.

This method ensures a high level of security and authenticity in identity verification.

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

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

The officials from participating agencies asked questions about the process, which were answered by the company’s top management.

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