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Tag: Ghana Card

  • NIA rejects Mahama assertions on Ghana card

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has rejected claims by ex-President John Dramani Mahama that the authority has not fully rolled out the Ghana card, describing them as unfounded.

    Mr. Mahama, the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), last Thursday stated emphatically, among other things, that the NIA was yet to fully roll out mass registration and that cards were still being issued with no mechanism for verification.

    He made the assertions while responding to the verdict of the Supreme Court on the compilation of a new register of voters.

    However, the NIA said the former President got his facts wrong by making “inaccurate statements”, according to a statement signed by the NIA Head of Corporate Affairs, ACI Francis Palmdeti.

    The statement said the NIA fully rolled out the mass registration exercise on April 29, 2019 to issue biometric ID cards and was left with just a week to complete the exercise before Covid-19 broke out.

    “NIA would have completed the registration exercise in the Eastern Region by 27th March 2020 after having conducted the exercise in 15 other regions. The mop-up exercise currently underway is to further provide opportunity for those who could not register to do so,” the statement said.

    The statement added that as of June 23, 2020, NIA had registered a total of 11,385,494 eligible Ghanaians, printed 11,172,261 cards and issued 10,854,829 cards to qualified Ghanaians.

    It said the target was to register 80 per cent of the population aged 15 and above and that a total number of Ghanaians aged 18 and above have been issued 10,576,120 Ghana cards.

    “By the end of the mop-up registration exercise, it is expected that 16.7 million eligible Ghanaians would have been captured on the National Identity Register and issued the Ghana card,” the statement explained.

    On the issue of cards issuance without mechanism for verification, the NIA insisted that the claim was false and added that the majority of Ghana cards (7,163,935) had been issued through the online verification mechanism.

    “There is an inbuilt mechanism for the verification of the 3,690,894 cards currently being issued using the Card Issuance Album. The use of manual verification is not a novel practice. There are various methods of verification. One can use the ocular inspection method, the match-on-card method or the one-to-many method which is online. The National Identity System is designed to utilize any or all of these methods.

    “Applicants who visit the card issuance centres are identified and issued their Ghana cards by NIA officials using the ocular verification method i.e. crosschecking of their photographs, name, date of birth, telephone number and other details as captured in the album against the registration slips they submit or their verbal claim,” according to NIA in the statement.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • NIA extends Ghana card issuance in some selected districts

    The National Identification Authority (NIA), Tuesday, extended the Ghana Card Issuance exercise to Saturday, June 27, in some selected districts.

    The NIA was scheduled to end the card insurance blitz today, Tuesday, June 23, but extended the issuance in districts that received their Card Issuance Albums late.

    The affected districts are; Adansi South (New Edubiase), Asante Akim Central, Afigya Kwabre South, Asante Akyem North, Atwima Kwanwoma, Afigya Kwabre North, Sene West, Sene East and Asokore Mampong in 31 centres.

    The rest are; Krachi East in 16 centres, Akatsi South in 10 centres, Asokwa four centres, Adansi South (Akrofrom) in only one centre.

    A statement signed by Francis Palmdeti, Head of Corporate Affairs of the NIA, urged all applicants who are yet to collect their Ghana Cards to go to their respective Card Issuance Centres for their cards.

     

    Source: GNA

  • NIA extends Ghana Card issuance in districts that received albums late

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has extended the issuance of Ghana card in districts that received their albums late.

    A statement issued by the NIA said the districts that received the albums late will have an extension to Saturday, June 27, 2020.

    The NIA had originally scheduled to have the issuance of the Ghana card end on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

    But the statement says 13 districts where albums were received late will have their date extended.

    Out of the districts, 8 of them will have the date extended in all districts while the remaining five districts will have their dates extended in selected centres.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • NIA extends card issuance exercise in 13 regions

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has extended its card issuance exercise in 13 regions.

    The exercise which was supposed to end on 18th June 2020 in the 13 regions will now end on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2020.

    The regions are Greater Accra, Volta, Oti, Northern, North East, Savannah, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Ashanti, Western North, Western, and Central Regions.

    The Authority had expected that by the end of 18th June, 2010, “over 11 million Ghanaians will possess the Ghana Card.”

    The NIA in a statement however said “the Card Issuance Exercise in the Eastern, Upper East and Upper West Regions will continue at Registration Centres during the Mop-Up Exercise”.

     

    Below is the full press release

    Extension of Card Issuance Exercise in the Greater Accra, Volta, Oti, Northern, North East, Savannah, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Ashanti, Western North, Western, and Central Regions

    It is announced for the information of the general public that the Card Issuance Exercise which was scheduled to end on 18th June 2020 in the above-named Regions, is hereby extended to Tuesday, 23rd June, 2020.

    The Card Issuance Exercise in the Eastern, Upper East and Upper West Regions will continue at registration Centres during the Mop-Up Exercise.

    Applicants who are yet to collect their Ghana Cards are entreated to do so during this extended period.

    SGND: ACI. FRANCIS PALMDETI
    HEAD, CORPORATE AFFAIRS, NIA

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Ghana card issuance extended to Tuesday, June 23

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the extension of the Ghana card issuance exercise across the country.

    It was first scheduled to end on Thursday, 18 June 2020 but has been extended to Tuesday, 23 June 2020.

    In a statement issued by the Authority on Friday, 19 June 2020 and signed by its Head of Corporate Affairs, Francis Palmdeti, the NIA stated: “The card issuance exercise in the Eastern, Upper East and Upper West Regions will continue at registration centres during the mop-up exercise.”

    The Authority added: “Applicants who are yet to collect their Ghana cards are entreated to do so during this extended period.”

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) had earlier said it will resume its registration in the Eastern Region from 18 27 June 2020.

    At the same time, its card distribution exercise started on Wednesday, 10 June 2020 at 5,635 registration centres across the country.

    “The exercise will enable approximately 3,934,073 Ghanaians who could not receive their cards during the mass registration exercise to do so”, the NIA said in a statement.

    “The cards are being issued to Ghanaians at the same centres where they registered during the mass registration exercise.

    “Nearly 800,000 Ghanaians have received the Ghana card since the exercise began last Wednesday, 10 June 2020,” it noted.

    The NIA said: “All persons who registered but have not received their Ghana cards are requested to go to the registration centre where they registered to pick up their card”.

    “To receive the card, a Ghanaian must present the registration application form, the printout or receipt given at the time of registration, or provide other relevant information to be cross-checked against his/her photograph and personal details contained in a registration centre album.”

    By the end of the exercise, the NIA said more than eleven million Ghanaians will possess the Ghana card.

    “Out of that number, a total of 10,295,578 Ghanaians will be aged 18 years and over,” the statement added.

    Source: Class FM

  • 32,756 cases of multiple NIA registration detected

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has detected 32,756 suspected cases of multiple registration in the ongoing registration exercise in violation of a law that requires each eligible citizen to be issued with a card.

    The Executive Secretary of the NIA, Professor Kenneth A. Attafuah, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, said the authority would begin investigations into the matter and those found culpable would be prosecuted.

    “The NIA has a board which comprises heads of key state institutions and security agencies such as the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Births and Deaths Registry, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghana Statistical Service and three other members.

    “The board will look at these double registrants on a case by case basis and when it is estimated that there are fraudulent motives behind their action, prosecutions will be done,” he added.

    The event was organised to provide updates on the activities of the NIA over the past one year and the way forward as the authority resumes the registration exercise in the Eastern Region today.

    A mopping-up registration exercise also begins today.

    Highlights

    Providing highlights on the activities of the NIA, Prof. Attafuah said the authority had registered 11,063,259 eligible Ghanaians as of the time the exercise was discontinued in the Eastern Region.

    He added that the authority had so far printed 11,034,174 cards since the exercise began last year and issued 9,050,346 to qualified citizens.

    The ongoing NIA card issuance which started on June 10, 2020, is expected to end today. And so far, the authority has distributed 1,950,245 cards out of the 3,934,073 cards available for collection.

    Prof. Attafuah said there were also 350 cases of eligibility of some persons suspected to be foreigners that were being challenged across the country.

    He said with the registration exercise nearing completion, the NIA would set up District Review Committees (DRCs) to look into specific cases and make appropriate recommendations.

    “In addition, the NIA has withheld the Ghana cards of some applicants because the personal identification numbers (PIN) indicate that they had previously been registered in the national identity register as foreigners, but attempted to register for the Ghana card as Ghanaians without showing evidence of acquiring a Ghanaian citizenship.

    “People in this category will be required to provide evidence to establish that they have subsequently acquired Ghanaian citizenship,” the executive secretary said.

    He further denied claims that the authority was deliberately printing multiple cards to people, saying “there are 525 incidences where multiple cards have been printed with the same PIN. This was caused by a system update which has been resolved. Only one card can be active against a set of biometrics such as face, fingers and iris”.

    On the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) protocols, Prof. Attafuah urged people to wear nose masks when going to register: “We are saying that no mask, no registration,” he emphasised.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Double card registrants will not receive their cards – NIA

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) says all persons captured to have registered double will not receive their Ghana card.

    Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the NIA Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI), Francis Palmdeti disclosed aa probe into the double registration has started to expose how the double registrations were recorded.

    Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he explained that the NIA will resolve the problem.

    About 32,756 persons registered more than once for the Ghana Card.

    The situation has caused the NIA system to put the printing of such cards on hold as the system detects such act as fraudulent.

    He said persons affected are being contacted by the NIA to inform them on what they need to do.

    Meanwhile, the applications of some 350 persons have so far been challenged on the grounds of eligibility.

    The NIA is also commencing a mop-up registration exercise in all 16 regions beginning with the Upper East and Upper West from Thursday, June 18, 2020, to Friday, July 3, 2020.

     

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Ghana Card: Dont turn yourself into vouching contractors Ghanaians told

    The National Identification Authority has warned Ghanaians to desist from taking fees for vouching in its Ghana card registration exercise.

    Speaking at a media briefing to update Ghanaians on its ongoing mass Ghana card distribution exercise and to give details on its upcoming mop-up registration exercise, the Executive Secretary of the Authority Professor Kenneth Attafuah said whiles there is no limit to the number of times a person can vouch for applicants, the process of vouching must be done with integrity and honesty as well as with diligence that can prove the nationality of the applicant to be Ghanaian.

    “The personal identification number of the person vouching is tied to that of the person who has been vouched for. Both parties will be prosecuted if it is discovered that the vouching process is done fraudulently.

    Please be advised that nobody should take up the responsibility of vouching as a contract for fee payment. You are to vouch for persons you know to be Ghanaians and are eligible to register. Vouching falsely is criminal and there are consequences,” he warned.

    Professor Attafuah went ahead to disclose that the authority has withheld the Ghana Cards of some applicants as their Personal Identification Numbers indicate that they had previously registered in the National Identity Register as foreigners and have now attempted to register for the Ghana Card as Ghanaians, without showing evidence of acquiring citizenship.

    He said persons in this category will be required by the NIA to provide evidence to establish that they have subsequently acquired Ghanaian citizenship before their cards will be issued to them.

    Background

    Under the regulations of the NIA, an applicant of the Ghana Card must be a Ghanaian citizen and must be able to prove same by presenting a valid Ghanaian Travelling Passport, a birth certificate or a valid certificate of acquired citizenship as well as a Ghana Post Digital Address Code (residential) in order to qualify to register.

    In case an applicant does not have any of the above mentioned mandatory documents, a relative issued with a Ghana Card can vouch for the person under oath, or two members of the persons community of residents who have been issued with a Ghana Card and falls within a given category of status can vouch for the applicant.

    The NIA on April 29, 2019 commenced a nationwide exercise to issue identity cards to all Ghanaians across the country beginning with the Greater Accra Region. Since then the authority has conducted the mass registration exercise in all 16 regions in the country except in the Eastern Region where the exercise was truncated on March 21, 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Authority has however announced it is resuming the exercise in the Eastern Region on Thursday, June 18, 2020, to Saturday, June 27, 2020, with registration centers expected to be open from 7:00 am each day to 5:00 pm, with the exception of statutory public holidays.

    The NIA is also commencing a mop-up registration exercise in all 16 regions beginning with the Upper East and Upper West from Thursday, June 18, 2020, to Friday, July 3, 2020.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • NIA restarts Eastern Region mass registration

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) will resume the mass registration which it suspended in the Eastern Region on March 21, 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    An announcement by the authority states that the exercise will take place between June 18 27, 2020.

    Also planned, was a countrywide mop-up exercise without the Eastern Region.

    The ongoing issuance of the Ghana card, which commenced on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 5,635 registration centres across the country and set to continue till Thursday, June 18, 2020, would enable approximately 3,934,073 Ghanaians who could not receive their cards during the mass registration exercise to do so.

    The cards, according to the NIA, are being issued to Ghanaians at the same centres where they registered during the mass registration exercise. As on Monday, some 800,000 Ghanaians received the Ghana card since the commencement of the exercise last Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

    All persons who registered but had not received their Ghana Cards were requested to go to the registration centre where they registered to pick up their card, the NIA announced, adding that “to receive the card, a Ghanaian must present the registration application form, the print out or receipt given at the time of registration, or provide other relevant information to be cross-checked against his/her photograph and personal details contained in a Registration Centre Album.”

    The authority has said that any Ghanaian with concerns about the card issuance process may contact NIA.

    “By the end of the exercise on June 18, 2020, over 11 million Ghanaians will possess the Ghana card, which they may use for social, economic and political purposes. Out of that number, a total of 10,295,578 Ghanaians will be aged 18 years and over,” the NIA stated.

    It is expected that a total of 16.7million Ghanaians will have been registered and issued with Ghana cards when the mop-up exercise is completed, DAILY GUIDE has learnt.

     

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Two persons who allegedly stole NIA laptops granted bail

    The Accra Circuit Court 4 has granted bail to two persons allegedly involved in the stealing of 64 HP Probook laptop computers belonging to the National Identification Authority (NIA).

    The computers were allegedly stolen in the course of the Ghana Card registration.

    The first accused person, Frank Nketiah, a trader is said to have bought the laptop machine from an NIA employee and in turn, sold it to Victor Maduka who plies his trade at Kwame Nkrumah circle.

    Lawyers for the suspects told the Court presided over by Emmanuel Essandoh that the accused persons have been on police enquiry bail for nine months and needed mercy.

    The lawyers assured the Court that the accused persons were of no flight risk and would keep with Court dates if granted bail.

    The two have subsequently been granted bail; Frank Nketia with GHS85, 000 with four sureties three of whom shall be public officers earning not less than GHS3000; and Victor Maduka with GHS85,000 with two sureties one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GHS2,000.

    The case has been adjourned to 6th July 2020.

    In a related development, three NIA laptops were stolen at Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti Region in December 2019.

    Officials of the National Identification Authority at one of the centres at Aboabo in the Asokore Mampong Municipality could not trace the laptops when they returned from the Christmas break.

    After a similar instance, the Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District sentenced a 20-year old student of the Agona Senior High Technical School (ASTEC) to four years imprisonment for stealing a laptop used in the ongoing Ghana Card registration in the Ashanti Region.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Know when Ghana Card mop-up registration exercise will start in your region

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) is set to embark on a mop-up mass registration exercise in the various regions across the country with the exception of the Eastern Region.

    This is because the Eastern Region will continue with its Ghana Card registration from June 18 to June 27 after the exercise got suspended on March 21 following an interlocutory injunction by the High Court.

    In a press release signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs, ACI Francis Palmdeti said the NIA is expected to register about 16.7 million Ghanaians by the end of the mop-up registration exercise.

    “It is expected that a total of 16.7 million Ghanaians would have been registered and issued with Ghana cards when the mop-up exercise is completed,” he said.

    Below is the registration schedule for the mop-up exercise

    1. Upper East  18/06/2020 to 3/07/2020

    2. Upper West  18/06/2020 to 3/07/2020

    3. Northern  10/07/2020 to 24/07/2020

    4. North East  10/07/2020 to 24/07/2020

    5. Savannah  10/07/2020 to 24/07/2020

    6. Central  4/07/2020 to 23/07/2020

    7. Western  4/07/2020 to 23/07/2020

    8. Western North  4/07/2020 to 23/07/2020

    9. Volta  30/07/2020 to 9/08/2020

    10. Oti  30/07/2020 to 9/08/2020

    11. Ashanti  30/07/2020 to 13/08/2020

    12. Greater Accra  16/08/2020 to 29/08/2020

    13. Bono  20/08/2020 to 4/09/2020

    14. Bono East  20/08/2020 to 4/09/2020

    15. Ahafo  20/08/2020 to 4/09/2020

    Source: abcnewsgh.com

  • Mass registration for Ghana Card to continue in the Eastern Region

    The mass registration exercise for the Ghana Card in the Eastern Region is to resume on Thursday, June 18, 2020, and end on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

    The exercise was halted on March 21, 2020, due to measures rolled out to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country.

    A statement by the National Identification Authority (NIA), the body in charge of the exercise, however, said the issuance of cards which began on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at 5,635 registration centres nationwide is set to continue till Thursday, June 18, 2020.

    According to the NIA, nearly 800,000 Ghanaians have received the Ghana card since the re-commencement of the exercise last Wednesday and about 3,934,073 more who could not receive theirs during the mass registration could do so.

    “By the end of the exercise on 18th June 2020, over 11 million Ghanaians will possess the Ghana Card which they may use for social, economic and political purposes”, the statement stated.

    The authority has also urged all individuals who have registered but have not received their Cards to go to their registration centres to pick up their cards.

    Things needed for the pick-up

    According to the authority, one was expected to present the application form, the printout or a receipt that was given at the time of registration or provide relevant information to be cross-checked against his/her photograph and personal details contained in a Registration Centre Album.

    Originally the Authority had insisted one would need biometric verification to pick up the card, however that requirement has been shelved without any explanation.

    Persons with concerns about the card issuance process may contact NIA on Whatsapp number, 0205044793 or call 0302-738-333 and 0242438615.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • NIA to embark on mop-up mass registration exercise throughout the country

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) is set to embark on a mop-up mass registration exercise throughout the country, except in the Eastern Region.

    This will enable those who could not register for the Ghana Card during the registration period do so from now.

    It is expected that a total of 16.7 million Ghanaians would have been registered and issued with Ghana cards when the mop-up exercise is completed.

    Meanwhile, the NIA has stated that it will continue the Mass Registration in Eastern Region which was suspended on 21st March 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “All persons who registered but have not received their Ghana Cards are requested to go to the registration centre where they registered to pick up their card,” NIA stated.

    Below is a statement:

    NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY

    15th June 2020

    To All Media Houses

    For immediate release

    CARD ISSUANCE AND MOP-UP REGISTRATION EXERCISES

    CARD ISSUANCE

    The Ghana Card Issuance Exercise by the National Identification Authority (NIA) commenced on Wednesday, 10th June 2020 at 5,635 registration centres across the country and is set to continue till Thursday, 18th June 2020. The exercise will enable approximately 3,934,073 Ghanaians who could not receive their cards during the mass registration exercise to do so. The cards are being issued to Ghanaians at the same centres where they registered during the mass registration exercise. Nearly 800,000 Ghanaians have received the Ghana Card since the exercise began last Wednesday, 10th June 2020.

    All persons who registered but have not received their Ghana Cards are requested to go to the registration centre where they registered to pick up their card. To receive the card, a Ghanaian must present the registration application form, the printout or receipt given at the time of registration, or provide other relevant information to be cross-checked against his/her photograph and personal details contained in a Registration Centre Album.

    Any Ghanaian with concerns about the card issuance process may contact NIA on any of the following: WhatsApp 0205044793; Call 0302-738-333, 0242438615.

    By the end of the exercise on 18th June 2020, over 11million Ghanaians will possess the Ghana Card which they may use for social, economic and political purposes. Out of that number, a total of 10,295,578 Ghanaians will be aged 18 years and over.

    CONTINUATION OF MASS REGISTRATION IN THE EASTERN REGION

    NIA will continue the Mass Registration in Eastern Region which was suspended on 21st March 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exercise will take place from 18th 27th June 2020.

    MOP-UP MASS REGISTRATION EXERCISE

    NIA will also embark on a mop-up mass registration exercise throughout the country, except in the Eastern Region. Below is the registration schedule for the mop-up exercise:

    REGIONS START END 1. Upper East 18/06/2020 3/07/2020 2. Upper West 18/06/2020 3/07/2020 3. Northern 10/07/2020 24/07/2020 4. North East 10/07/2020 24/07/2020 5. Savannah 10/07/2020 24/07/2020 6. Central 4/07/2020 23/07/2020 7. Western 4/07/2020 23/07/2020 8. Western North 4/07/2020 23/07/2020 9. Volta 30/07/2020 9/08/2020 10. Oti 30/07/2020 9/08/2020 11. Ashanti 30/07/2020 13/08/2020 12. Greater Accra 16/08/2020 29/08/2020 13. Bono 20/08/2020 4/09/2020 14. Bono East 20/08/2020 4/09/2020 15. Ahafo 20/08/2020 4/09/2020

    It is expected that a total of 16.7million Ghanaians would have been registered and issued with Ghana cards when the mop-up exercise is completed.

    SGND: ACI. FRANCIS PALMDETI

    HEAD, CORPORATE AFFAIRS, NIA

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Two remanded over NIA stolen laptops

    Two persons have appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing 15 HP Pro book laptops belonging to the National Identification Authority (NIA).

    Frank Nketia a trader, and Victor Maduka a businessman, who are being held over charges of stealing, possession of stolen property and dishonestly receiving, have pleaded not guilty.

    They are expected to reappear on June 26 before the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh.

    Meanwhile, defence counsels in their application for bail contended that the charge of stealing raises concerns.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rita Yeboah, the Prosecutor, said the complainant is Emmanuel Selby, the Head of Information Management System under the NIA.

    ASP Yeboah said Nketia and Maduka reside at Tetegu and Lapaz respectively.

    The Prosecutor said in October last year, Government of Ghana procured 5,000 HP Pro book computers from Denmark for NIA to be used in issuing ECOWAS Cards for Ghanaians.

    According to ASP Yeboah, in February this year, the NIA detected that 64 pieces of the laptops had been stolen as such, the Authority commenced investigations.

    Prosecution said during investigations, it was detected that one of the employees working under the complainant, stole the laptops and disposed 15 of the laptops at Circle in Accra.

    The Prosecutor said the employee, however, could not lead the Police to the receivers of the stolen laptops.

    Prosecution said on May 14, this year seven of the laptops were retrieved from a shop at Burma Camp in Accra, and when the serial numbers of the laptops were scanned, they were among the NIA laptops procured.

    Prosecution said further investigations revealed that in March this year, Nketia after bargaining bought and received 12 laptops from two other persons who are now at large and kept them.

    Nketia called Maduka who came to purchase the laptops at a cost of GHC1,500 each.

    ASP Yeboah said during the lockdown some Nigerian businessmen at Circle had their shops closed and Maduka’s shop too was close down but he managed to give the laptops to a friend to sell for him and the Supervisor at Burma Camp bought them and he was issued with a receipt.

    Prosecution said Nketia and Maduka admitted the offences in their caution statements.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Ghana Card distribution: NIA changes date

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has moved its date for the distribution of close to four million Ghana cards across the country to tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

    A press announcement had earlier put the date for the commencement of the distribution yesterday.

    The change in date according to the NIA was informed by the need to provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to its field staff, who would be involved in the distribution.

    To be issued are 3,875,441 Ghana cards, an exercise that will be undertaken over a week. By the end of the exercise, 11,062,850 Ghanaians will be in possession of the Ghana card.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • More than 3 million Ghana Cards to be issued from June 8

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) says it will issue 3,875,441 Ghana Cards to applicants in 5,635 registration centres in all the regions concurrently, from Monday, June 8 to Tuesday, June 16.

    The nationwide exercise, it said, would enable 11,062,850 Ghanaians to possess their cards in good time to use them for vouching for their relatives or other Ghanaians who wished to register during the nationwide mop-up registration exercise.

    The mop-up exercise would begin from Thursday, June 18 to mid-September.

    A statement signed by Mr Francis Palmdeti, Head of Corporate Affairs of the NIA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, on Friday, said the issuance of the cards would also enable holders to use it for other mandatory purposes stated in the National Identity Register Regulation, 2012 (LI 2111), including registering as a voter and vouching for others as Ghanaians.

    The NIA would provide adequate personal protective equipment for all NIA field officials for use during the exercise, the statement said.

    Also, “all registration centres will be equipped with the requisite resources to ensure effective observance of all prescribed health and safety protocols.”

    Additionally, “security personnel will be deployed at each registration centre to enforce compliance with crowd control measures, such as physical distancing and the appointment system”.

    It said all applicants attending NIA card collection centres must wear a face mask and wash their hands before beginning the Card collection process.

    Source: GNA

  • NIA officials trained ahead of Eastern region mass registration

    The leader of the national risk communication and social mobilisation for covid-19 , Dr Dacosta Aboagye has provided an orientation on COVID-19 safety measures to NIA officials to enable mass registration to begin in the Eastern region.

    The orientation focused on six main areas.

    Below are the guidelines to follow.

    Respiratory Etiquette Mandatory wearing of mask of all persons before entering the registration centre.

    Temperature Checks Mandatory checking of temperature of all persons before entering the registration centre.

    Hand Hygiene Mandatory washing of hands with soap under running water for at least twenty (20) seconds before joining the queue.

    Physical distancing Keep and maintain a distance of 1-2 meters from people next to you in the queue.

    Hand Sanitizer Mandatory hand sanitizing before leaving the registration centre.’

    Finger Print and Iris Scanner Wipe Scanners (Iris & Fingerprint) will be disinfected after each use.

    Staff who attended the orientation were drawn from the Operations, Technology & Biometrics and the Corporate Affairs Departments.

     

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • NIA to resume registration in Akufo-Addos home region from 7th June

    The National Identification Authority has set June 7, 2020 to resume the Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    According to reliable sources, the NIA’s decision  to continue the registration is because the institution had fore knowledge of the lockdown relief.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo’s last address saw an extension of the ban on social gathering until the end of May.

    NIA is already mobilizing and servicing equipment for the continuation of the exercise since it’s suspension on March 21 2020.

    Source: operanewsapp.com

  • NIA registers 7.091 million Ghanaians for Ghana Card

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has explained that it has been able to register and issue Ghana Cards to a total of 7,091,769 Ghanaians within one year that it started the mass registration exercise.

    The NIA started the mass registration exercise on April 29, 2019 and had planned to complete it by June 2020 but the exercise had to be truncated on March 20, 2020 due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

    In a press statement issued Friday, Nay 15, 2020, the NIA said apart from the 7,091,769 registered and issued with cards, a total of 127,723 are in various stages of adjudication.

    “NIA has printed the majority of cards in backlog (3,683,955), and is ready to issue them to Ghanaians once NIA resumes its field operations.

    The NIA’s press statement issued by Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Francis Palmdetti, was in response to allegations by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the NIA was working with the Electoral Commission to rig the 2020 polls in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    The NDC had claimed that the instant issuance of cards by the NIA had failed.

    But responding, the NIA said the instant issuance strategy was an innovation introduced to address its perennial inability to issue printed cards over the years.

    “Network connectivity permitting, instant printing is the preferred mode of card printing, followed by the second option of deferred printing, and lastly centralized printing,” it noted.

     

    It said nationwide, over 70 per cent of all cards are issued instantly, and that when it got to the turn of the Volta Region, the experience was the “best.”

    “It is noteworthy that, between 2008 and 2016, NIA issued only 900,000 Ghana Cards,” it added

    Backlog

    Earlier in a radio interview on Accra based Oman FM’s Boiling Point programme monitored by Graphic Online on Thursday night [May 14, 2020], the Chief Executive Officer of the NIA, Prof Ken Attafuah said many of the backlog cards have been printed and that there were just around 100,000 cards that were yet to be printed.

    He said when the opportunity presents itself, those cards were ready and the NIA will send them to the field and issue it to the public.

    He said NIA will embark on a mop-up in Greater Accra and five other regions, where the registration figures were not encouraging especially in Upper West, Upper East, Bono East, Bono and Ahafo.

    He said after the mop-up, the NIA will open permanent regional and district offices across the country to also issue Ghana Cards so that every Ghanaian can get a Ghana Card.

    Adjudication

    Apart from the backlog, Prof Attafuah said there were about half a million applications that are in various stages of adjudication because some of the applicants used different names the first time they registered when the NIA started the Ghana Card during President J.A. Kufuor’s or President J.E.A. Mills’ tenure.

    Some too, he said have registered with different dates of birth and have not shown gazette notifications indicating the change in either name or date of birth.

    He said the system had detected all those anomalies because some people may have changed their information in the present registration exercise because of reasons in relation with their social security or retirement dates, but, he said because the system was very sensitive, all those anomalies have been flagged and currently being adjudicated.

    He said those cases are in a separate queue and that there were about half a million of those cases that were being adjudicated by the NIA.

    Attached below is the NIA’s full response to the NDC allegations

    Attachments

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Qualified foreign nationals can hold Ghana cards NIA

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has refuted claims that the Authority has unlawfully issued Ghana cards to some foreign nationals, specifically to a Chinese national.

    This follows a video circulating on social media suggesting that the possession of a Ghana card by a Chinese was unlawful.

    In a statement issued and signed by Mr Francis Palmdeti, the Head of Corporate Affairs, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, the Authority said issuance of Ghana Card to resident foreigners in Ghana was backed by law.

    It said a Chinese or other foreign nationals may lawfully possess a Ghana card as contained in Section 2 (2) of NIA Act 2006, Act 707, and Section 7 of National Identity Register Act 2008, Act 750.

    “By virtue of these legal provisions NIA is mandated to register and issue Ghana cards not only to Ghanaians living in Ghana and abroad but also to foreigners legally resident in Ghana.

    “The NIA has since 2012 been issuing Ghana cards to qualified foreigners who have lived in the country for a cumulative period of 90 days and above as per the National Identity Register Regulations LI 2111 (2012),” it stated.

    Touching on some key features, the statement said the cards issued to Ghanaians had both ECOWAS Identity boldly printed with ECOWAS and the Ghana flag at the top left and right corners respectively.

    But the card issued to foreigners had boldly printed on its face in red “NON CITIZEN” and it was marked same in the National Identity Register (database).

    Although the law prescribes that the National Identity Card issued by NIA should be known as the Ghana card, it said this name was, however, not printed on the face of the cards issued to either Ghanaians or to foreigners.

    Thus, a Ghanaian or a foreigner may lawfully possess the Ghana card as long as he or she had complied with the respective registration requirements.

    It further stated that unlike the Ghana Card issued to Ghanaians which was valid for 10 years, the NON CITIZEN Ghana Card issued to foreigners was, however, valid for one year, renewable annually.

    Eligible foreigners paid a fee of 120 dollars to register and acquire the Ghana card and 60 dollars for renewal.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • None of our field staff has tested positive for COVID-19 in Eastern Region NIA

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has denied claims that its field officers in the Eastern Region have tested positive for COVID-19.

    According to the Authority, information circulating on social media which indicates that three NIA officials in the Eastern Region have tested positive for the disease is false.

    “NIA checks with JoyNews (Multimedia Group) indicate that the story is not authentic and has not been reported by any outlet of the Multimedia Group,” the Head of Corporate Affairs of the NIA, Francis Palmdeti noted in a statement.

    Backing its claims with facts concerning the situation in the region, the Authority said out of the 32 persons who have tested positive for the disease in the region, “31 are Indians working for AFCON” and the remaining one is a local farmer who has “no connection to the NIA as a staff, registration official or any other capacity whatsoever”.

    The NIA further urged the general public to disregard any information that goes contrary to the actual details on the ground.

    Case count in the Eastern Region

    As of Monday, April 13, 2020, the total number of cases in the Eastern Region stands at 32.

    The number increased from 23 to 32 after the Ghana Health Service confirmed 158 new cases on Sunday, April 12, 2020, making the national total 566, a part of which nine were from the Eastern Region.

    Apart from the 65-year-old mango farmer at Begoro in the Fanteakwa North District of the region, who was initially admitted at the Begoro Governmental Hospital for tuberculosis but later developed other symptoms, the remaining 31 cases are workers of AFCON Company, a construction company with ties to an Indian business conglomerate.

    Meanwhile, some 58 staff of the Begoro Government Hospital believed to have come into contact with the farmer are currently under quarantine.

    Their samples have been sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for testing.

     

     

    Minister disagrees to lock down region

    There are calls for the government to extend the lockdown imposed on Accra and Kumasi to other regions in the country, as the novel coronavirus keeps spreading across the country.

    So far, 10 out of the 16 regions have confirmed cases of the disease.

    After the Eastern Region recorded its first case, the Minority Caucus on the Health Committee on Friday, April 3, 2020, called for a nationwide lockdown.

    But the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Nuertey Ayertey insisted it was unnecessary for the government to impose a partial lockdown on the Eastern Region because of one case.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Coronavirus: NIA suspends Ghana card registration despite court ruling

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the indefinite suspension of the Ghana card registration exercise in the Eastern Region until further notice despite a High Court ruling which said it can go ahead with the registration.

    On Friday, 27 March 2020, an Accra High Court ruled that the NIA can go ahead with the Ghana card registration despite President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ban on public gathering to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    In his judgment, Justice Anthony Oppong said the applicants in the case have not shown any justifiable reason why the NIA should be restrained from its Ghana card registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    “The application for interlocutory injunction ought to fail and same is dismissed”, Justice Oppong ruled.

    But the NIA in a statement said it is suspending the registration exercise because of “a careful assessment of the registration exercise carried out in the Eastern Region between Wednesday, 4th March and Friday, 20th March 2020. The decision to suspend the registration follows a careful assessment of the exercise in the region so far.”

    The NIA also said it took into account “the current trend in the spread of COVID-19 in the country since the suspension of the mass registration exercise on Saturday, 21st March 2020, following the service on the NIA of an interlocutory injunction application.”

    The NIA noted that it welcomes the dismissal by the High Court of the interlocutory injunction application and the substantive suit but, nonetheless, the Authority will continue to suspend its mass registration operations until further notice.

    NIA said it will use the period of suspension to continue with its preparations toward the establishment of its Regional, Municipal and District Offices and arrange for the co-location of its registration services at some of its cognate institutions such as National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), among other responsibilities.

    The NIA further stated that it will continue to observe developments relating to the management of COVID-19 in the country and will determine, at the appropriate time, when and how to resume its mass registration operations.

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Delay in the issuance of Ghana Cards is also a concern – New Juaben residents

    Many residents of New Juaben Municipality have expressed frustration over the delay in the issuing of their registration cards.

    Some of the frustrated persons who spoke to the Ghana News Agency(GNA) said after many failed promises, the staff of the National Identification Authority(NIA) cannot even assure them of the date that the cards would be ready for collection.

    These issues came to light when the GNA visited some of the registration centres in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region to observe how the registration exercise was proceeding.

    At the Nsukwao Registration Centre at the New Juaben South Municipality, it was observed that, some of the patrons of the registration exercise received their registration cards three days after going through the registration process while others have not received theirs even two weeks after going through the process.

    Mr Isaac Nartey, a worker at Best and Crompton Engineering Ghana Limited based in the Northern Region, said the delay in the issuance of the registration cards has delayed his journey back to his base in the north.

    He said the NIA officials have been postponing the date for the collection of his card any time he goes there and this has created avoidable challenges to him.

    Madam Rose Ansah, a 58-year-old resident of the area, also expressed her disappointment saying she had to travel to Tema to take care of her sick mother but has postponed the journey due to the delay in the issuance of the card after registration.

    At the Koforidua Social Welfare Registration Centre, GNA met many registered people at the Centre who had come to pick their cards but were told to come back on Monday, 23 March, 2020 as there was a shortage of materials for the printing of the cards.

    Source: GNA

  • NIA should be allowed to continue with the Ghana card registration – Minister

    Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour has suggested the National Identification Authority (NIA) can continue to register Ghanaians for the Ghana card provided they are following the protocols to prevent any spread.

    The Minister in an interview said the staff of the NIA, as well as the residents, are reasonably safe because the authority has put in measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

    Mr. Darfour told Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm that, the staff of the NIA have been provided with the needed logistics to protect them against the virus.

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the Economic Fighters League, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and policy think tank the Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) have all called on the government to call the NIA to order.

    They want the exercise suspended because it poses a threat to public health and safety.

    But Mr. Darfour says there is no cause for alarm because measures are in place to prevent any form of spread.

     

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Gunshots at NIA registration centre

    A 35-year-old man has been arrested for storming a registration centre of the National Identification Authority (NIA) firing warning shots in an attempt to halt the exercise.

    The incident occurred Thursday, March 19, 2020 at about 7:40am at Obeyemi a farming community near Oterkpelu in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.

    The suspect identified as Stephen Tetteh, according to Starr News sources, had threatened the NIA officials to stop working since the exercise could endanger the health of applicants in the midst of coronavirus outbreak.

    Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded five cases more of the deadly COVID-19 disease bringing the total number of cases to 16.

    The Ghana Health Service in an update said all five were reported from the Greater Accra region.

    The first is a 29-year-old Ghanaian lady resident of Accra with no history of travel. Sample taken from her confirmed positive in the laboratory.

    The second is a 34-year-old Ghanaian lady resident of Accra who had contact of a confirmed case at her place of work.

    Also, a 53-year-old Ghanaian male, resident of Tema with no history of travel, no evidence of close contact with a confirmed case. Samples confirmed positive in the laboratory.

    A 41-year-old Ghanaian male who arrived in Ghana by KLM on the 15 March 2020; indicated exposure with family members in Amsterdam exhibiting respiratory symptoms and also on the flight with some passengers sneezing and coughing.

    The fifth person is a 36-year-old Ghanaian male resident of Paris, France; date of arrival in Ghana unconfirmed with no evidence of contact with an infected person.

    This brings to a total of sixteen (16) confirmed cases in Ghana, with no death.

    The coronavirus pandemic has now infected more than 246,777 people around the globe after doubling in less than two weeks.

    Between the start of the outbreak in December and March 7, there were 100,000 confirmed cases recorded.

    But another 100,000 people have been infected in just 11 days since then, largely due to a surge in cases in Europe. Over 10, 000 people have so far died from the deadly virus.

    China, Italy, Iran, Spain and Germany have suffered the highest number of infections.

    The current death toll suggests 4 percent of patients who catch the virus die from it.

    But experts say the death rate is probably lower than that because the true number of infections is much higher is far greater because some countries, including the UK, are only testing people hospitalised by the illness.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Illegal registration: Suhum police arrest NIA official

    The Suhum night patrol team has arrested a 37-year-old National Identification officer for registering some individuals in their respective homes past the working hours of the National Identification Authority.

    The suspect, Richard Kudjo Pinto, who is a teacher and the supervising registration officer at Kuano Church of Pentecost registration centre in the Coaltar District was arrested with documents of the National Identification Authority on March 19, 2020, around 8:30 pm.

    Among the documents were 27 pieces of National Identity Card Application forms with one bearing the name and particulars of Otubea Rebecca, 12 pieces of Oath of Identity Forms, with 4 pieces bearing the names of Opoku Mabel, Martey Ebenezer, Lomotey Christiana Tetteh and Korkor Comfort and an Instructions Manual for registration and card issuance.

    The suspect upon interrogation claimed that the above-named persons were at the registration centre earlier in the day to register but could not be registered due to the closing time as such sought to register them in their respective homes for other procedures to follow the next day.

    The suspect has since been detained for questioning. Exhibits retained at the station as efforts are being made to trace persons mentioned to assist in investigation.

     

    Source: McAnthony Dayenga, Contributor

  • NIA official arrested for registering people at night

    A Registration Supervising Officer of the National Identification Authority(NIA) has been arrested by the Suhum Police for illegally registering applicants Thursday night.

    The suspect, Richard Kudjo Pinto,37, was arrested at the Adarkwa Station area around 8:30 pm.

    The suspect who is a teacher by Profession and the Supervising Registration Officer at Kuano Church of Pentecost registration centre in the Coaltar District was arrested with documents of the National Identification Authority.

    According to the Police, 27 pieces of National Identity Card Application forms with one bearing the name and particulars of Otubea Rebecca, 12 pieces of Oath of Identity Form with 4 pieces bearing the names of Opoku Mabel, Martey Ebenezer, Lomotey Christiana Tetteh and Korkor Comfort and an Instructions Manual for registration and card issuance were retrieved.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed the incident said, the suspect upon interrogation claimed that the applicants he was registering could not register when they turned up at the registration centre earlier during the day and so he decided to document their particulars to facilitate their registration the next day.

    He said the suspect has been detained while efforts are underway to arrest other accomplices whose names have been mentioned.

    The ongoing mass registration exercise by the NIA despite the Presidential directives in the wake of coronavirus has come under strong criticisms by some Ghanaians and Associations. The Ghana Medical Association, Commission on Rights and Administrative Justice have all urged the NIA to suspend the exercise.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo must call NIA, EC to order – CHRAJ

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) wants President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to call the National Identification Authority (NIA) to order following its continuance of the mass Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region in the face of the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

    CHRAJ similarly wants the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk and safety associated with the planned Voters’ Registration.

    A press statement signed by the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, said the body was worried that in spite of the President’s directives on social gatherings and the existing WHO precautionary measures aimed at containment and combating COVID-19, the NIA is relentlessly embarking on a registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    “…the Commission is of the considered view that the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee calls the NIA to order by suspending forthwith its ongoing registration exercise in the Eastern Region until the COVID-9 pandemic normalises,” the statement said.

    “In the same vein, the Commission calls on the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk and safety associated with the planned Voters’ Registration due to the danger or threat that any mass gathering arising from such an exercise can pose to the health and life of the people”.

    The statement further stressed that the EC’s “posture and intransigence” would undermine WHO protocols/benchmarks on COVID-19 and violate the Constitution of Ghana.

    NIA

    Acknowledging the recent mitigating measures taken by the Government aimed at containment and combating COVID-19, the Commission said it was worried that the National Identification Authority (NIA) is carrying out a registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    “The Commission is however worried that in spite of the President’s directives and the existing WHO precautionary measures aimed at containment and combating COVID-19, the National Identification Authority (NIA) is relentlessly embarking on a registration exercise in the Eastern Region,” the statement said.

    “This has been exacerbated by reports in the media that the registration officials are poorly equipped with hand sanitisers, gloves and nose masks”.

    The statement added that the NIA’s action is a clear violation of the right to health and ultimately the right to life as stipulated under Articles 34(2), 13(1) and 33(5) of the 1992 Constitution (Constitution) respectively, which are premised on Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Articles 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

    EC

    The EC statement further explained that the EC’s posture and intransigence would undermine the World Health Organization’s (WHO) protocols/benchmarks on COVID-19, urging the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk associated with the planned Voters’ Registration.

    “Concerning the Electoral Commission (EC), the Commission’s attention has been drawn to a Press Statement dated 17th march, 2020 issued by Sylvia Annoh (Mrs), EC’s posture and intransigence would undermine WHO protocols/benchmarks on COVID-19 and capable of violating the above mentioned provisions of the Constitution, international and regional human rights instruments and the SDGs for which Ghana is a State Party and a signatory,” the statement said.

    “In the same vein, the Commission calls on the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk and safety associated with the planned Voters’ Registration due to the danger or threat that any mass gathering arising from such an exercise can pose to the health and life of the people.

    “The Commission further recommends that Government as a matter of urgency provide protective gear and equipment to all hospitals and health facilities both private and public and to all health professionals directly handling Covid-19 suspected cases to mitigate the looming contagion in the protection of the rights to health and life of these professionals who are exposed to serious risks of contracting the deadly virus in the line of duty on a daily basis”.

    Read the entire statement below;

     
    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • NIA implements social distancing at registration centres

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has implemented social distancing, one of the precautionary measures announced by the government to combat the spread of the Coronavirus in communities.

    As part of measures to curb the spread of the virus, following confirmation of cases in Ghana, the government earlier in the week announced a ban on all large public gatherings.

    Other precautionary measures announced by the government included social distancing in communities and other public places.

    Some critics have questioned the continuous activities of the NIA, raising concerns that there are too many contacts at their registration centres for the Ghana card.

    The NIA has now adopted the social distance measure, which leaves significant meters between people at registration centres to ensure there is no physical contact.

    The social distancing measure taken by the NIA is both for people waiting to be served and those who are being served by staff of the NIA.

    The adoption of the social distancing measure will also ensure that the required space advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is created between people to minimize the effect of a sudden cough or sneeze.

    Social distancing has been strongly recommended at communities, offices, homes and public places such as the DVLA, registrar general, passport offices, etc., where daily services are rendered.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana Card registration ongoing without protective gears [PICTURES]

    It has emerged that workers of the National Identification Authority (NIA) who are registering Ghanaians in the ongoing mass registration for Ghana Card in the Eastern Region are doing so without any of the prescribed protective gears meant to fight the spread of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19.)

    Graphic Online on Monday observed that it was only workers of Identity Management Systems Limited, the NIA’s private partner in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) joint venture for delivering the National Identification System project were working with protective gears.

    NIA staff were rather not seen wearing protective gears.

    “It will amaze you that IMS which happens to be the private firm that NIA is collaboratively working with, in this project made provisions for all its workers for about 2 weeks ago but for the past two weeks when you walk into even the Head Office, you will be seeing two groups of workers, those with the protective mask and gloves and those without. Those with it are workers of IMS those without are for NIA,” a staff told Graphic Online.

    The source noted that presently the registration exercise was ongoing in Nkawkaw and Akwatia in the Eastern region without the necessary protective measures to help curb the spread of the virus.

    Graphic Online also observed a similar situation at Aburi on Monday.

    NIA Registration Statistics as of March  7, 2020:

    Enrollment – 10, 047,811
    Printed - 9, 036,423
    Issued – 6, 499,025

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Suspend Ghana Card registration to contain Coronavirus spread – GMA to NIA

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called on the National Identification Authority (NIA) to suspend with immediate effect the ongoing mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    In a press statement signed and issued Wednesday, March 18, 2020 by the President of the GMA, Dr Frank Ankobea and the General Secretary, Dr Justice Yankson, the GMA said it was in the interest of Public Health and Safety to suspend the exercise.

    It said the “mass registration exercise also defeats the spirit and letter of the directives (especially on mass gathering) issued by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana as part of the measures to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.”

    “It is the considered view of the GMA that this mass registration activities by the NIA if allowed to continue could create a fertile ground for potential spread of COVID-19 endangering the lives of the staff of the NIA the communities involved and the entire nation in the process. This will undoubtedly be fatal for the country,” the GMA added.

    The GMA urged the government to begin enforcement of self-isolation of all Ghanaian Citizens and Residents returning into Ghana from countries with high disease burden of COVID-19 in accordance with the self-isolation guidelines as issued by the Ghana Health Service (GHS)

    3 The GMA also calls on all Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Corporate Ghana to compliment Governments efforts at combating COVID-19 in the Country.


    PHOTO: NIA registration Centre at Anglican Primary School, Mampong in Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of Eastern Region.

    Below is a copy of the GMA statement

    PRESS STATEMENT

    CONTAINMENT OF COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN GHANA

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) having continuously monitored the country’s preparations and activities to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana do hereby states as follows

    1 That, in the interest of Public Health and Safety. The GMA calls on the National Identification Authority (NIA) to suspend with immediate effect the ongoing mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region

    This mass registration exercise also defeats the spirit and letter of the directives (especially on mass gathering) issued by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana as part of the measures to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in the country

    It is the considered view of the GMA that this mass registration activities by the NIA if allowed to continue could create a fertile ground for potential spread of COVID-19 endangering the lives of the staff of the NIA the communities involved and the entire nation in the process This will undoubtedly be fatal for the country

    2 The Government is also urged to begin enforcement of self-isolation of all Ghanaian Citizens and Residents returning into Ghana from countries with high disease burden of COVID-19 in accordance with the self-isolation guidelines as issued by the Ghana Health Service (GHS)

    3 The GMA also calls on all Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Corporate Ghana to compliment Governments efforts at combating COVID-19 in the Country

    Thank you

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Fulanis appeal to Akufo-Addo after NIA staff refuse to register them

    A Fulani Community in Ghana, Tabital Pulaaku International Ghana Chapter wants the President Nana Akufo-Addo to as a matter of urgency address what they refer to them as unfair treatment meted out to their Fulani brothers in the country.

    According to the group, eligible Ghanaian Fulanis are being prevented from registering for the Ghana Card by some officials of the National Identification Authority.

    The General Secretary of the Tabital Pulaaku International Ghana Chapter, Yakubu Musah Barry who addressed the press said they are denied the opportunity to register for the Ghana Card and other national documents such as the birth certificate, passports among others.

    “It is the aim of this press conference to get the attention of His Excellency, the President to tackle the conduct of some officials of the National Identification Authority against our Fulani brothers who happen to be citizens of this country, Ghana. Since the registration of this Ghana card begun, Ghanaian Fulanis are being denied even though they qualify to write their name for the card. They are not allowed to have an opportunity to be registered by officials of the authority on the basis that, they are not Ghanaians. On countless occasions when Fulanis show up for the registration of the card, they are denied.

    These victims are not given the opportunity to initiate the processes to challenge or defend them neither are they are allowed to present their required documents to that effect. Many other Fulani people or Fulani citizens find it difficult to obtain national documents like the birth certificate, passport, among others because they are easily identified as Fulanis so, therefore, they are considered as not Ghanaians. So we, therefore, call on the President to come to our aid against this unfair treatment meted out to our people,” he said.

    Background

    The Fulani Community in Ghana earlier expressed worry over alleged discrimination against Fulanis in the ongoing National Identification Card registration early in January 2020.

    Yakubu Musa, the General Secretary of the Fulani Community had received complaints across the country from Fulanis who were denied an opportunity to register in the ongoing National Identification Card registration.

    Yakubu Musa Bari made the comment at the installation of Ibrahim Mohammed as the new Wenchi Fulani Community Chief in the Wenchi Municipality of the Bono Region.

    Yakubu Musa Bari noted that before Ghana became independent, the Fulanis voted and have participated in every election.

    “The NIA always singles out Fulanis that they are not Ghanaians and they are not supposed to register. Citizenship is by law. You just see my face and tell me I am not a Ghanaian? No. If the Chinese can be a Ghanaian, a Lebanese can be Ghanaian, a Nigerian can be a Ghanaian why not the Fulani who toiled and defended this country before it became independent?” he asked.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Residents of Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis angry at NIA

    Some residents at Ntankorful and Kansasorodo in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region have expressed anger at the turn of events over the Ghana Card Registration.

    According to the aggrieved residents, officials from the National Identification Authority (NIA) embarked upon the exercise three weeks ago to capture their demographic data and their photographs and were told to come the following week for their Ghana Cards.

    However, they never heard anything from the NIA officials until yesterday, Tuesday, February 25, 2020 when a notice was served that their Ghana cards were ready for collection.

    According to the NIA officials, the sharing of the Ghana Cards would close at 5pm yesterday for residents in the communities and extend the exercise to teachers and students of the Methodist Senior High School at Kansasorodo which was originally chosen as a center for the registration.

    As a result, most of the residents who went to the Ntankorful Roman Catholic Church center could not get their Ghana Cards including some teachers and students who were registered the same period.

    Out of anger and frustration of joining a longer queue, most of them who spoke to this reporter, Daniel Kaku were no longer interested in the Ghana cards due the posture of the NIA officials who could not explain further why their Cards we’re not given to them and where they could get their cards.

    According to the residents I spoke to if the Ghana Card is to be used to vote in future elections, majority of the electorates will be disenfranchised.

    They, however, appealed to the NIA boss to intervene to ensure sanity in its operations with the Ghana Card.

    A teacher at the Methodist Senior High School who could not get his Ghana Card as most of his colleague teachers got theirs, was not happy and decided to abandon the idea of chasing their cards.

    Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

  • Ghana card registration starts March 4 in Eastern Region

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) is set to begin a mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region from Wednesday, March 4 to March 27, this year.

    The exercise will be carried out in all the 33 constituencies with 833 designated registration centres.

    The Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof Kenneth Attafuah, announced this at a media briefing in Koforidua.

    The National Identification Authority officially began its mass registration in April last year beginning with the Greater Accra Region. It has so far covered 15 out of the 16 regions of the country and about to start registration in the Eastern Region which is the last.

    So far, close to ten million eligible Ghanaians have been registered with almost nine million cards printed out.

    According to the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof Ken Attafuah, the mass registration exercise is opened to only Ghanaian citizens 15 years and above living home and abroad but not foreigners.

    He disclosed that foreign nationals legally or permanently resident in the country will be registered after the mass registration for a fee.

    Prof Attafuah asked all those who may not be captured during the mass registration not to worry since regional offices will be established after the mass registration to cater for such persons.

    Prof. Attafuah asked the public to report any official who engages in corrupt acts to their office through the following numbers 0302999306 or through WhatsApp on 0205044793.

     

    Source: gbcghanaonline.com

  • Ghana card registration starts March 4 in Eastern Region

    The Executive Secretary for National Identification Authority (NIA), Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah has announced that mass registration for Ghana card in the Eastern Region will begin March 4, 2020 and end on March 27, 2020.

    Professor Attafuah revealed this when he paid a working visit to the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council and Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region to court their support as part of the preparation for the exercise.

    The Eastern Region is the last region the NIA will end its mass registration exercise.

    “What is expected from you as a region is to educate the public to open their doors to offer accommodation to the employees of NIA, provide them with the needed security and create the awareness so that everybody who qualifies to register will come out to get registered.”

    Prof. Attafuah stated that NIA has so far registered little over nine million people out of which 85% have received their Ghana card.

    The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Nuertey Ayertey on behalf the Regional Minister Eric Kwakye Darfour assured the readiness of the region for a successful exercise.

    According to him, measures will be put in place to minimize the challenges faced by the Authority in other regions and will provide the necessary security for the safety of equipment and staff that will be deployed to the region.

    “As the last region to undertake this exercise and the home region of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo who has exhibited strong commitment to this programme we need to do all that it takes to be ranked as the best region.”

    Dean of MDCEs in the Region, Richmond Amponsah Adjabeng, District Chief Executive for Birim South, on behalf of his colleagues reaffirmed their commitment to the success of the registration exercise in their respective districts.

    He, however, appealed to NIA Boss to advise staff of the Authority to desist from engaging in any act that will mar the exercise.

    The NIA piloted the registration exercise via institutional and community (Adentan, La Nkwantanang and Ga East municipalities) from 4th June 2018 to 28th April 2019. Mass Registration Exercise started on the 29th April 2019 with Greater Accra being the first region. The registration exercise since then has taken place in fifteen other regions.

    The exercise involved three phases; verification of documents, presentation of birth certificate or passport for further documentation and If a person does not have any of them, relatives with the Ghana card or two non-relatives with the card served as guarantors.

    Other steps involved filling the forms and taking of the photograph, digital signature as well as thumbprints.

    The NIA vision statement and mandate is to provide a complete value added integrated multi-sectoral and multipurpose National Identity System through the innovative use and application of information and communication technology to facilitate the social, economic and political development of Ghana.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • NIA extends Ghana card registration in Western, Central Regions by 4 days

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has extended the Ghana card registration exercise currently ongoing in the Central, Western and Western North Regions by four days.

    The registration exercise which was expected to end on Tuesday, 18 February 2020, will now end on Saturday, 22 February 2020.

    This according to the NIA follows “a careful review of the operational performance of the exercise, including the challenges encountered since Monday, 27 January 2020 when the exercise commenced”.

    “The National Identification Authority (NIA) wishes to inform the general public that the mass registration exercise in the above-named clustered has been extended by four (4) days. Thus, the exercise originally scheduled to end on Tuesday 18th February 2020 in the said regions will now end on Saturday 22nd February 2020,” a statement from NIA signed by its Communications Director, ACI Francis Pamdetti said.

    “The decision is also a positive response to requests from various stakeholders for an extension of the duration of the exercise in the said regions. It is expected that the extension will afford more citizens in the clustered regions further opportunity to register for the Ghana Card,” the statement added.

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Farmers top list of applicants in ongoing Ghana card registration exercise

    Data gathered from the ongoing Ghana card mass registration by the National Identification Authority (NIA) shows that farmers come first if registrants are categorized based on occupation.

    So far, 8.5 million (8,512,320) Ghanaians have registered for the Ghana Card as of February 8, 2020.

    1.4 million (1,484,331) farmers

    According to the data, 1.4 million (1,484,331) farmers have so far registered as of the above data, making them the highest occupation.

    In the second position are students, with 1.3 million (1,302,612) of them registering for the Ghana Card so far.
    791,760 Retail market traders

    The third-highest category of people that have registered for the card is retail market traders, who numbered 791,760.

    453,421 Unemployed

    The data compiled by NIA shows that out of 8.5 million (8,512,320) Ghanaians registered, 453,421 are unemployed, and this places them at the fourth position.

    The number of teachers who have so far registered for the Ghana Card reached 367,121 as at February 8, 2020, ranking fifth.

    For businessmen and women who have registered for the Ghana Card, they amounted to 324,431, and this places them in the sixth position.

    For tailors, dressmakers, sewers, upholsterers and related workers, their total number is 267,943, and this puts them in the seventh position.

    Ranking in the eighth position are hairdressers, barbers, beauticians and related workers with a figure of 204,507.

    179,155 Retirees

    The number of retirees who have so far registered for the Ghana card are 179,155, ranking in 9th position.

    119,829 Bricklayers, carpenters, and other construction workers

    The NIA data revealed that the number of bricklayers, carpenters and other construction workers is 119,829.

    The mass registration currently going on in the Central, Western and Western North regions would end on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

    The NIA is yet to conduct registration in the Eastern Region.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • 1.4m farmers, 1.3m students 367,121 teachers – NIA data reveals top 10 occupations in Ghana

    Data gathered from the ongoing mass registration for Ghana Card by the National Identification Authority (NIA) shows that farmers are at the number one position when data is categorized into occupation of registrants.

    8.5 million registered at February 8, 2020

    So far, 8.5 million (8,512,320) Ghanaians have registered for Ghana Card as at February 8, 2020.

    1.4 million (1,484,331) farmers

    According to the data, 1.4 million (1,484,331) farmers have so far registered as at February 8, 2020, emerging as the highest occupation.

    1.3 million (1,302,612) students

    In the second position are students, with 1.3 million (1,302,612) of them registering for the Ghana Card so far.

    791,760 Retail market traders

    The third highest category of people that registered for the card are retail market traders, who numbered 791,760.

    453,421 Unemployed

    The data compiled by NIA shows that out of 8.5 million (8,512,320) Ghanaians registered, 453,421 are unemployed, and this places them at fourth position.
    367,121 Teachers

    The number of teachers who have so far registered for the Ghana Card reached 367,121 as at February 8, 2020, ranking fifth.

    324,431 Businessmen/women

    For businessmen and women who have registered for the Ghana Card, they amounted to 324,431, and this places them in the sixth position.

    267,943 Tailors, dressmakers, sewers, upholsterers

    For tailors, dressmakers, sewers, upholsterers and related workers, their total number is 267,943, and this puts them in the seventh position.

    204,507 Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians

    Ranking in the eighth position are 204,507 hairdressers, barbers, beauticians and related workers.

    179,155 Retirees

    The number of retirees who have so far registered for the Ghana Card amounted to 179,155, ranking in 9th position.

    119,829 Bricklayers, carpenters, and other construction workers

    The NIA data revealed that the number of bricklayers, carpenters and other construction workers is 119,829.

    The NIA is yet to conduct registration in the Eastern Region.

    The mass registration currently going on in the Central, Western and Western North regions would end on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

     

    Source: thefinderonline.com

  • Three Ghana Card registration laptops stolen at Asokore Mampong

    The Airport District Police Command in the Ashanti Region is investigating a case of three missing laptops that were being used for the ongoing Ghana Card Registration Exercise.

    Officials of the National Identification Authority at one of the centres at Aboabo in the Asokore Mampong Municipality could not trace the laptops when they returned from the Christmas break.

    Police confirmed the incident and say they have been able to retrieve two of the laptops.

    Ghana Card for Voter registration will ensure credibility Dr. Bawumia

    Although police officers will not speak on the record, they have given assurances of working to retrieve the other laptop.

    The Police also said they have also invited the Supervising Registration officer at the Registration Center and one other person for questioning.

    After a similar instance, the Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District sentenced a 20-year old student of the Agona Senior High Technical School (ASTEC) to four years imprisonment for stealing a laptop used in the ongoing Ghana Card registration in the Ashanti Region.

    An official of the National Identification Authority (NIA) in charge of the Agona Community Centre on 16th December 2019 lodged a complaint at the Agona District Command when he discovered that one of the HP laptops being used for the ongoing Ghana Card registration could not be traced.

    Bribery allegations hit Ghana Card registration; officials cursed

    The Ghana Card registration exercise in the Ashanti Region is currently being done in 833 registration centres.

    Source: www.citinewsroom.com

  • NIA to register 2.8 million Ghanaians in Ashanti Region

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) is targeting to register 2.8 million Ghanaian residents in Ashanti Region for the Ghana Card.

    It will from December 11 deploy 15,000 staff to man 833 centres to be created for the registration exercise which will run until to January 8, 2020

    Read: NIA to commence Ghana Card registration in Ashanti

    Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof Ken Agyemang Attafuah announced this at a press briefing at Ejisu ahead of the exercise.

    He said the Authority has since its mass registration exercise registered 4,857,845 Ghanaians in the 11 regions it has undertaken the exercise.

    Read: Northern Region Fulanis cry over Ghana Card denial

    Out of the figure, the NIA has printed 4,291,840 cards but issued 2,695,478 cards

    Prof Attafuah encouraged eligible Ghanaians in the Region to take advantage of the exercise and get their Ghana Card to enjoy the benefits that comes with it.

     

    Source: 3news.com

  • Ghana Card: 4.8 million registered

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has so far registered a total of 4,857,845 persons for the Ghana Card in the ongoing mass registration exercise.

    The NIA commenced the Ghana Card registration exercise in the Greater Accra Region on 29 April 2019 and has so far conducted the exercise in the Volta, Oti, Northern, Savanna, North East, Upper East, Upper West, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions.

    Mahama charges NIA to address challenges with Ghana card registration

    Addressing the media in Kumasi on Monday, 2 December 2019 before the commencement of the registration exercise in the Ashanti Region, the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, noted that the NIA has five more regions to cover.

    He said of the 4,857,845 Ghanaians registered so far, 2,695,478 out of the 4,291,840 printed cards have been issued.

    Prof Attafuah further indicated that registration for the Ashanti Region is scheduled to begin from Wednesday, 11 December 2019 and end on Wednesday, 8 January 2020.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • NIA is not recruiting Commissioner of Oaths for Ghana Card registration

    The attention of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has been drawn to an advertisement for the recruitment of Commissioners for Oaths (CFO) circulating on social media purporting to have been posted by the NIA.

    For the avoidance of doubt, the NIA said it had not recruited CFOs and urged the public to disregard the report.

    Read: NIA extends Ghana card registration in Northern, Savannah and North East regions

    A statement issued by Mr Francis Palmdeti, the Head of the Corporate Affairs of the NIA, said the Authority did not recruit, train and commission persons as CFOs and that, the recruitment rested with the Judicial Service of Ghana, adding that, “the NIA has no such powers to do so.”

    “The NIA will not, and does not intend to, usurp the functions of the Judicial Service.

    The public is therefore advised to disregard the advertisement circulating on social media,” it added.

     

    Source: Ghananewsagency.org

  • Residents queue at night to get Ghana card in Salaga

    Some residents living in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region have been compelled to queue at night in order to obtain the National Identification Card.

    They sleep in the open at registration centers to enable them register for the Ghana Card.

    Read: NIA apologizes for Ghana card registration fiasco

    A visit by DGN Online at about 7pm Tuesday night at the registration center revealed residents in queues.

    Some residents mostly women who spoke to DGN Online, said they had no choice but to join the queue at night to enable them go through the registration process successfully.

    They, however, lamented about the rate at which they have been bitten by mosquitoes.

    Some National Identification Authority (NIA) officials who spoke to DGN Online, on condition of anonymity, lamented about the rate at which the young and aged sleep at the registration centers at the mercy of the weather and mosquitoes.

    Read: NIA cautions banks against rejecting the Ghana Card

    Meanwhile, the National Identification Authority(NIA) has extended the registration period from Wednesday 23rd October to Wednesday 30th October 2019 across the Savannah, North East and Northern regions.

    The NIA entreated all prospective applicants to take advantage of the extension period to get registered.

    The NIA, however, indicated that permanent offices will be established at the various Regional, Municipal and District levels by March 2020 to afford all Ghanaians who were not registered during the mass registration exercise the opportunity to get registered and be issued with the Ghana Card for free.

     

    Source: dailyguideafrica.com

  • Nearly 3 million registered for Ghana Card

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) says it has registered 2,902,526 eligible Ghanaians for the Ghana Card in the Greater Accra, Volta and Oti regions since the registration started on June 4, last year.

    It said out of the figure, 2,590,526 cards had been printed and 1,718,021 cards had been issued to applicants in the three regions as at September 14, 2019.

    54-year-old woman dies after collapsing in Ghana card queue

    Mr Francis Palmdeti, Head of Corporate Affairs of the NIA, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Sunday that, 556,559 people had been registered in the Volta Region, with 523,984 cards printed and 395,175 issued as at September 14, 2019.

    In the Oti Region, he said, 387,057 people had been registered with 236,348 cards printed and 187,643 cards issued since registration started in that particular region on August 22, 2019.

    Mr Palmdeti said mass registration exercise ended on Saturday, September 14 in the Oti Region.

    Over 500,000 Ghana cards ready for distribution in Accra NIA

    However, all registration centres with backlogs of cards will continue to be printed and issued to applicants from Monday, September 16 to Friday, September 20.

    He said registration centres in the Volta Region where mop-up was conducted will also continue to issue printed cards to applicants at the centres they registered from Monday, September 16 to Friday, September 20, but no new registrations will be done.

    Source: Ghananewsagency.org