11 NIA staff to be dismissed; 5 to be suspended

Eleven officers of the National Identification Authority will go home today for committing various infractions during registration.

The Executive Director of the NIA, Prof. Ken Agyemang Attafuah, announced this on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Tuesday.

Five others are to be suspended, he said, for less serious offences.

Prof. Attafuah was giving an update on investigations launched last week into reported cases of misconduct on the part of officials of the NIA tasked with registering citizens 15 years old and above for a national ID.

The mass registration exercise is ongoing at designated centres in the capital, Accra.

The process at some registration centres has, however, been dogged by delays, shortage of material, extortion, registration of foreigners in violation of the law, registration outside of the designated centres and out of time, among others.

Last week a registration officer was arrested for attempting to register two Nigeriens posing as Ghanaians.

He reportedly confessed to police officers he was offered and received, GHS60 to commit the unlawful act. His supervisor chanced upon him and caused his arrest.

Two other officials of the NIA were caught registering persons after registration hours and at a private residence at Awudome in Accra.

Prof. Attafuah himself revealed another official was indicted for taking Ghc10  from an applicant to commit the offence.

Last week he promised swift investigations into the reports and action on the staff found to have committed the offences. 

Speaking on the Super Morning Show Tuesday, the NIA Executive Director said dismissal letters have been prepared for the eleven persons.