Six NIA staff arrested, seven dismissed over alleged Ghana card registration extortion

Six employees of the National Identification Authority (NIA) have been arrested following allegations that they demanded money from parents during the free Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged six to 14 in the Upper East Region.

The Authority has also dismissed seven other members of the registration team for allegedly knowing about the misconduct but failing to report it to the appropriate authorities.

The incident occurred at the Galaka registration centre, where parents reportedly identified the six staff members as individuals who demanded payments before registering their children.

The suspects were subsequently arrested by officers of the Bawku West District Police and are assisting with investigations into the allegations.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the NIA explained that the decision to terminate the appointments of the seven other employees followed an internal review of the incident.

According to the Authority, the affected employees were alleged to have been aware of the unauthorised collection of money from applicants but failed to report the conduct.

The statement, signed by the Head of the Corporate Affairs Directorate, Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, reaffirmed the Authority's position that registration officials must strictly comply with the approved procedures governing the issuance of Ghana Cards.

The NIA stressed that the ongoing registration exercise for children between the ages of six and 14 is free and that no employee has been authorised to demand money from parents or guardians as a condition for registering their children.

It maintained that misconduct by registration officials would not be tolerated, particularly where such conduct undermines public confidence in the national identification process.

The Authority further assured the public that it remained committed to maintaining discipline among its personnel and ensuring that registration services were delivered fairly and professionally.

It encouraged members of the public who encounter demands for unauthorised payments or other forms of misconduct at registration centres to report such incidents through its official communication channels.

The NIA indicated that it would continue taking appropriate disciplinary measures against employees found to have breached its operational rules.

Meanwhile, police investigations into the allegations involving the six arrested employees are ongoing. Their involvement in any criminal offence has yet to be established through the judicial process.