The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced an expedited printing of over 540,000 identification cards following the payment of GH¢100 million by government to CalBank PLC.
The Authority’s financial challenges have seen it unable to print the cards, popularly known as Ghana Cards, as suppliers locked them out due to the Authority’s indebtedness.
Most of the persons affected are those who registered as far back as July, 2022.
But in a press release on Tuesday, March 21, the Authority says “expedited” printing began on Saturday, March 18 after three days of preparatory works.
The preparatory works included configuration of printers, print servers and laminators as well as deployment of additional staff from the regional and district offices to the national headquarters in Accra.
A total of 541,529 cards are expected to be printed within an 11-day period, ending Wednesday, March 29.
“At the end of the exercise, NIA will make the cards available at its Regional and District Offices nationwide and announce to the public when the persons who registered for the cards since July 2022 should go to their respective NIA offices for the cards to be issued to them.”
There was pressure on NIA to print out the national ID cards as the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) seeks to make the Ghana Cards the sole document of proof for registration of voters for the next elections.
“NIA stands committed to serving the public in dignity and integrity while remaining focused, coherent and rigorous as a responsive and responsible public sector institution.”
