NIA registration in Greater Accra begins on Wednesday

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - The National Identification Authority (NIA), would from November 18, 2009 to February 11, 2010 embark on mass registration exercise of people in the Greater Accra Region. The exercise is intended to collect personal and biometric data for the establishment of a national register.

In a press release issued by the Public Affairs Department of the NIA on Tuesday, the Authority said all Ghanaian citizens and legally or permanently resident foreign nationals aged six years and above as those qualified to register.

The statement, therefore, called on all applicants to provide personal information such as name, date of birth, place of birth, hometown, district, nationality, educational background, occupation, postal address, house number, street name, parents' information and spouse information.

It appealed to applicants to bring along any form of verification documentation such as baptismal card or certificate, birth certificate, birth weighing card, voter's ID card, passport, immigration permit, SSNIT card, dual citizenship card, naturalization certificate among others. "The public is informed that registration is free and any person who demands or offers money for registration should be reported to the NIA officers or state security agents."

The statement urged public not to attempt to register more than once adding that registration would last for 10 days in each phase. Phase one of the exercise, which is scheduled to take place from the November 18-28 would cover Dangme East, Dangme West and Tema including Ashaiman and Adenta municipalities.

Phase two of the exercise which would be from 7-17 December would cover Ga East, Ga West and Ga South while phase three slated for the 11- -21 January would cover Okaikwei, Ablekuma and Ashiedu Keteke.

The last phase of the exercise would take place from the February 1- 11 and would cover Osu Clottey, Ayawaso and Kpeshie including Ledzekuku-Krowor.