Developing a Geo-spatial Information Framework to Facilitate National Identification System (NIS) in Ghana

Abstract

The National Identification System (NIS), an initiative of the government to create a computerized database of Ghanaians and foreign nationals resident in Ghana using a biometric system of registration to captures the biodata of an individual and stores it in a database. The NIS is expected to provide some benefits such as development planning based on sufficient accurate population data, delivery of social services such as health, retirement benefits and social administration; delivery of credit facilities; and identification of individuals for voting, insurance, licensing and general national security purposes. The NIS lacks a geospatial database and this could be a setback to the realization of the benefits of the NIS to the citizenry in Ghana. Literature reviewed shows that high quality geographic database is essential to having an effective citizenry identification system, to take care of the spatio-temporal dynamics which is key to the sustainability of such a system. Also this will aid policy makers, social scientist and government to geovisualise available citizenry data for research and decision making. This paper attempts to propose answers to the following questions: Can the NIS keep track of the spatial information pertaining to an individual or a group of people due to relocation? How can spatial information be validated during NIS registration? The paper first investigates novel geo-coding system that would be appropriate for providing spatial information of persons in Ghana. Secondly, the paper looks at the architectural framework for integrating a distributed geo-database into the NIS of Ghana. The paper then proposes a prototype system in the form of a Geo-demographic Information System for delivery of geographical data, demographic data, mapping capabilities and geo-information services. A system for validating location information within the NIS is discussed.