Chiefs And “Big Men” Should Stop Inducing Registration Officers—NIA Boss

Prof. Ken Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the NIA

The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA) Professor Ken Attafuah is appealing to Chiefs, Opinion leaders and “Big men” in the society to desist from cajoling and putting pressure on the officers of the ongoing Ghana Card registration for preferential treatment or to register them after working hours.

According to the NIA Boss, some registration officials are being induced by the members of the public to commit offences.

Speaking in an interview on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, the Executive Secretary of the NIA indicated that the pressure on the employees of the NIA compromises their objectivity.

He has therefore urged the public to be disciplined during the process since the Authority has the capacity and the know-how within the stipulated period to capture everyone.

“This is the appeal that opinion leaders, chiefs, powerful people in the society should desist from being overburdening on our registration officials. Compelling them, inducing them, or otherwise cajoling them to try and register them outside approved times and venues,” he said.

He further emphasized that some of the registration officials are sometimes harassed by these big men to do their bidding or face their wrath.

“In some of our registration centers, they are literally bullied by the big people. Some go and say; as for me and my household, we don't join queue. We have never joined queues,” Prof. Attafuah indicated.

Meanwhile, the Authority will release dismissal letters taking effect from Tuesday, May 14, 2019, to some 11 registration officers in the ongoing process, while suspension letters will also be issued out to some 5 others for various levels of infractions.

The Executive Secretary indicated that the Authority is doing all it can to ensure that the process is devoid of mistakes and therefore anyone caught subverting the rules would be ruthlessly dealt with according to law.