NIA Arrests 6, Dismisses 7 Over Alleged Extortion at Galaka Ghana Card Registration Centre Accra, Ghana – 30th October 2026

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has arrested six of its staff members and terminated the appointments of seven others following allegations of extortion during the recently concluded free Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged six to 14 at the Galaka registration centre in the Upper East Region.

According to a press release signed by Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of the Corporate Affairs Directorate, the six staff members were identified by parents of applicants as having demanded money before registering their children. They have since been arrested by the Bawku West District Police and are assisting with investigations .

The arrests followed an extensive internal review by the Authority into the alleged misconduct. The seven other members of the registration team whose appointments were terminated were found to have been aware of the alleged extortion but failed to report it to the appropriate authorities .

The NIA reiterated that registration must be conducted in accordance with approved procedures, stressing that no staff member is authorised to demand unauthorised payments from applicants or their parents. The Authority stated 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 Authority further encouraged members of the public to report suspected misconduct through its official channels.

The identities of the arrested staff members and those whose appointments were terminated have not been disclosed. It also remains unclear whether any of the suspects have been formally charged, and the amounts allegedly demanded from parents were not stated . Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.

The free Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged six to 14 was introduced as part of the NIA's efforts to expand national identification coverage. Under the NIA's approved fee schedule, first-time registration at district offices remains free for persons below 25 years, while applicants aged 25 and above pay a GH¢30 processing fee .

The Galaka incident has raised concerns about accountability within the NIA's registration operations, particularly during mass registration exercises targeting vulnerable populations. The Authority's swift disciplinary action—including both arrests and dismissals—signals a renewed focus on protecting the credibility of the national identification system.

ENDS

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Communications Team

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