NIA Registers Over 9 Million Ghanaians...Permanent Offices To Be Opened Soon – Prof Attafuah

A total of Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Two hundred & forty-two eligible Ghanaians in 15 regions have so far registered for the Ghana Card in the ongoing National Identification Authority’s mass registration exercise.

Subsequently, the authority has printed 848,721 cards and issued only 618,679 to qualified registered individuals.

The Chief Executive Director of NIA, Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah disclosed this at a press briefing in Koforidua for the Eastern Region to take its turn for the exercise which starts this Friday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Prof. Attafuah announced the authority is set to round-off the mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region in March this year, which will commence on March 4th to 27th, and shall be done in all the 33 constituencies across the region simultaneously at 833 registration centers from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm each day excluding Sundays and on statutory holidays.

He indicated that the exercise is free for all Ghanaian citizens and on the premise of “first come first serve” bases, reiterating that authorities of NIA will not shield an attempt by any official to extort money from anyone before registering them.

"Any demand for money by officials or any other unscrupulous person at the centers is a criminal offense punishable by law, all you need to provide at the registration center is a genuine birth certificate and other documents required,” he advised.

Meanwhile, an arrangement has been made for the aged, pregnant women and Persons with Disabilities to have a special queue for the exercise.

He also said permanent offices shall also be opened from April this year in all districts across the country to continue the free registration exercise.