By Bernice Bessey
The Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Tove Degnbol, has toured the Intelligent Card Production System (ICPS), a Danida multi-dollar fund support project under the Margins ID Group, an indigenous Ghanaian company.
The newly-appointed Ambassador’s tour of the $3.5 million state-of-the-art facility was to affirm the Kingdom of Denmark’s support to indigenous companies, and the nation as a whole. Ms. Degnbol, after touring the facility equipped with ultra-modern printing machines to provide Africa with best security ID cards and flyers yesterday at Spintex-Accra, said Denmark was committed to deepening her cooperation with Ghana.
According to the Ambassador, her return to Ghana after 30 years was symbolic, and an honour to contribute her quota to socio-economic development, while strengthening bonds between the two countries.
“Ghana and Denmark have had a close relationship as far back as anyone can remember. And over the years, the relations have become more comprehensive and of mutual benefit for our two countries. For me, Ghana and West Africa have been close to my heart for years, since I first visited the region almost 30 years ago, and during my various stays over the years. I have wanted to come back and engage in our joint activities,” she said.
She promised the ICPS management and staff of Danida for the continuous support to upgrade the facility. To further strengthen bonds between the two countries, the Danish government, under the Industrial Fund (IFU) for developing countries, has committed $5 million to support the ICPS.
The Executive Chairman of Margins Group, Moses Baiden, thanked the Danish government for the enormous support, since the $3.5 million loan was without interest, and a grant component of 30%. In total, the Danish government monetary support in 2015 alone amounts to $8.5 million, he said.
“We at ICPS are proud and grateful, not only for the medium and long term Danish concessionary loans to ICPS, which has enabled us to continue to expand and create quality jobs, but also the stamp of credibility this gives our company in the areas of governance, transparency, productivity and potential.”
Though he explained that the firm’s international recognition didn’t come on a silver-platter, but through hard work and excellent track record, he further said, “The successful accessing of these facilities by ICPS is a testament to our credentials as a company; the talent that our people possess, and our credibility and bankability as a company.”
Mr. Baiden, touched by the Danish government’s support to the private sector, of which the ICPS is a beneficiary, called on the Ghanaian government to do same. In fact, he said, the Ghana government must take steps to advance its policies to support private sector institutions such as ICPS, as it has demonstrated seriousness by making serious investments together with the Danish government to bring such an internationally certified facility to the country.
The belief was that such support enabled private companies to increase production, improve the economy, and create jobs. Currently, the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Company, ICPS, in collaboration with the National Identification Authority (NIA), had been charged to produce National Health Insurance Cards.
Aside this, it has also received contracts from Egypt, South Africa, Liberia and Nigeria to produce security ID cards for its citizens. He called on corporate institutions and organisations to patronise the company’s products, since it has the ability to manufacture visa cards, health cards and public transport acilliaries like driving licenses.