The National Identification Authority (NIA) of Ghana has taken disciplinary action against staff members accused of extortion during the recent free Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged 6 to 14 at the Galaka registration centre in the Upper East Region. Six staff members identified by parents of applicants as having demanded money before registering their children have been arrested by the Bawku West District Police and are assisting with investigations.
Following an extensive internal review, the NIA has also terminated the appointments of seven other members of the registration team who were found to have been aware of the alleged misconduct but failed to report it. The Authority stressed that it takes allegations of misconduct seriously and will continue to take appropriate disciplinary action to protect the integrity of its registration processes and ensure that the public receives services fairly and professionally.
The NIA reiterated that registration must be conducted in accordance with approved procedures, and no staff member is authorised to demand unauthorised payments from applicants or their parents. The Authority is encouraging members of the public to report suspected misconduct through its official channels. This move aims to prevent similar incidents in the future and maintain public trust in the registration process.
In a related development, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections. Interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period and pay a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026. The visit aimed to champion Global South reform and industrial drive, with a focus on strengthening South-South cooperation and multilateralism.
During the visit, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang addressed the 2026 Global South Academic Forum, where she called for stronger South-South cooperation and reform of the global financial architecture. She also linked Ghana's 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization, appealing for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
The Vice-President's visit was coordinated by Mr. Quayson, who worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana's jobs and transformation agenda. The trip was deemed successful, with the Ghanaian community and business leaders praising the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff.
Key points
- The NIA arrested six staff members and terminated the appointments of seven others over alleged extortion at the Galaka registration centre.
- The NPP has opened applications for parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections, with a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000.
- Ghana's Deputy Foreign Minister accompanied the Vice-President to Shanghai to champion Global South reform and industrial drive.
