The Acting Corporate Affairs Director at the National Identification Authority (NIA), Mr Abdul Ganiyu has explained that the long queues at the registration centres are due to the fact that more people are reaching age 15, which qualifies them to get adult cards.
According to him, once the person is 15 years, he or she qualifies for the card and as the day goes, more young people are now turning 15.
Reports indicate that more than 16 million Ghanaians have so far registered for Ghana’s national identity card, the Ghana Card.
This represents 85 per cent of Ghana’s adult population.
Despite the number, it has also been reported that people keep massing up at the centres and therefore there are mostly longer queues.
Read Also: Sim Registration: Go for Ghana card if you don’t have – NCA
Speaking on Atinka TV‘s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr Abdul Ganiyu said, “For the long queues, we have to understand that everyday, people will need Ghana Cards, especially those who are registering it for the first time. When you look at the adult population from 15 years and above, it indicates that everyday, people will reach the age of 15 and above. Maybe someone who was 14 years yesterday can turn 15 years today and so once the person has reached 15, he or she has qualified for the adult card which is a smart identity card and so by all means, you will see people who will go to the regional and district offices for registration.”
He explained that when you go to the regional offices, there are two separate queues, those issuing the cards and those who are doing the new registration, adding that if someone takes a camera to the centres and reports that all those there are doing a new registration, that is not true.
He said a lot of Ghanaians were expected to go and do the mass registration but people did not turn in as expected, even with the mop up registration, hence such persons are also in the queues now.
Mr Abdul Ganiyu again said the sim card registration deadline is 31st March and so due to that, all those who did not do theirs will rush to get theirs, hence the long queues.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
Writer’s email: porcia933@gmail.com