The National Identification Authority has announced the suspension of the mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region until further notice.
The action came on a day the Accra High Court gave them the go ahead with its citizens registration exercise.
READ MORE: High Court gives NIA green light to continue registration amidst coronavirus fear
In a statement, the NIA said the decision not to resume took “into account the current trend in the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana”
READ MORE: Coronavirus Outbreak: Surge in prices of goods; a reaction to coronavirus
Below is the release:
NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY
27th March 2020
To All Media Houses
For immediate release
INDEFINITE SUSPENSION OF MASS REGISTRATION IN THE EASTERN REGION
The National Identification Authority (NIA) announces the indefinite suspension of the mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region until further notice.
This decision follows a careful assessment of the registration exercise carried out in the Eastern Region between Wednesday, 4th March 2020 and Friday, 20th March 2020.
The decision to suspend the registration follows a careful assessment of the exercise in the region so far. It also takes into account the current trend in the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana 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 welcomes the dismissal by the High Court of the interlocutory injunction application and the substantive suit. Nonetheless, NIA will continue to suspend its mass registration operations in the Eastern Region until further notice.
READ MORE: Video: We’re sensitive people, not monsters – Ken Attafuah breaks silence on NIA registration
NIA 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.
Meanwhile, NIA will continue to observe developments relating to the management of COVID-19 in Ghana and will determine, at the appropriate time, when and how to resume its mass registration operations.
SGND: ACI. FRANCIS PALMDETI
HEAD, CORPORATE AFFAIRS, NIA
