The National Identification Authority (NIA) has taken action against 10 of its employees following an investigation into allegations of misconduct, improper collection of funds from applicants for the Ghana Card, and violations of the NIA’s established procedures.
The decision to terminate these employees was made by the management after a comprehensive inquiry led by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, stationed at the NIA’s headquarters in Accra.
This process involved suspending the accused employees, appointing a Disciplinary Committee of Inquiry to ensure fair hearings for each individual in accordance with legal protocols, and subsequently, the management’s endorsement of the recommendations put forth by the Disciplinary Committee.
The allegations leveled against the dismissed employees encompassed soliciting and receiving unauthorized fees from Ghana Card applicants, as well as manipulating the registration system for personal gain.
These instances of corruption were identified at various NIA locations, including the Head Office, Subin Sub-Metro District Office in the Ashanti Region, Western Regional Office, Registrar General’s Department Office, and La-Nkwantanang Municipal Office, all within the Greater Accra Region.
A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Directorate on August 15, 2023, emphasized that the actions of these employees not only violated the core principles of integrity and transparency upheld by the NIA but also undermined the organization’s fundamental purpose of ensuring reliability and credibility.
During recent visits to the NIA’s 16 Regional Offices across the country, Prof Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, the Executive Secretary of the NIA, affirmed the organization’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and ethical behavior.
The dismissal of these employees sends a powerful message that the NIA is committed to safeguarding the essential human rights of its staff while promptly and decisively enforcing the rule of law. This effort aims to establish a robust, ethical, flexible, and professional national institution with a strong focus on fostering a nation that its citizens can genuinely take pride in.
The Executive Secretary pledged to introduce additional measures to forestall such misconduct in the future.
This involves enhancing internal oversight mechanisms, providing regular integrity training for employees, and creating a platform through which citizens can report any instances of misconduct or anomalies they come across during their interactions with the NIA.
The NIA remains steadfast in its mission to offer trustworthy, reputable, and transparent identification services to citizens, all while adhering unwaveringly to the highest benchmarks of professionalism and ethical behavior.
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