NIA arrests six staff, dismisses seven over alleged Ghana Card extortion

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has taken disciplinary action against eight staff members over allegations of extortion during the free Ghana Card registration exercise in Galaka, Upper East Region. Six staff members were arrested, while seven others were dismissed. The arrest and dismissal came after complaints from parents who claimed that some registration officials demanded money from them before registering their children.

The NIA stated that the arrested staff members were identified by affected parents and are now assisting with investigations. An internal review revealed that the dismissed staff members were aware of the misconduct but did not report it. The Authority emphasized the need for the Ghana Card registration exercise to be conducted strictly according to approved procedures and stressed that no official should demand unauthorized payments from applicants or their parents.

The NIA reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability and warned that misconduct would result in appropriate disciplinary action. The organization also assured the public that it would continue to take measures to safeguard the integrity of its registration processes. Members of the public were encouraged to report suspected misconduct through official communication channels.