Suhum NDC accuses NPP MP, MCE of conniving with NIA Officers to deny members Ghana Card

Officials of the National Identification Authority, NIA, in Suhum in the Eastern region have been accused of frustrating perceived members of the opposition National Democratic Congress NDC from acquiring the Ghana card .

A statement issued Monday January 3,2022 by the Communication Director of the NDC in Suhum,Dove Maxwell stated that the leadership of Suhum NDC has “realized the bias and mafia tactics the National Identification Authority (NIA) office has deployed in running their affairs.

“The consistent and selective approach the NIA officials have adopted in issuing the identity cards to various applicants is uncalled for, unconstitutional and clear violation of the right of some citizens in Suhum and it’s environment”.

The statement further noted that “the NDC leadership has received complaints over the period, concerning how some citizens, purported to be NDC members who seek to get their Ghana cards from the NIA are made to go through so many unofficial bureaucracies which always frustrates them in getting their cards in the long run”.

The NDC pointed accusing fingers at the MCE and NPP MP for Suhum for hijacking the process with an agenda to block their party members from being served and promptly issued with the Ghana card.

“We have also noted how the Municipal Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament have hijacked the processes and the system of issuing the cards. From a reliable source, the MCE and the MP have always been influencing the process by giving their members protocol in skipping these unofficial bureaucracies subjected to others, these unfair practice aids their members to get their cards within the shortest possible time, while those purported to be NDC sympathizers are always deprived for accessibility, however they(the NIA officials) turn to blame a supposed “shortage of production materials” which is not the case.

“We can state in this content without fear or favor that, there are materials available but the NIA office in Suhum is being used by some politicians to achieve their parochial interest”.

The NDC in Suhum is therefore calling on the media and other stakeholders to intervene to stop the practice.

“We are also throwing this flying release to the MP, MCE and all other stakeholders who are using their office for gaining political capital to desist from it with immediate effect and give an equal opportunities to all Ghanaians in obtaining their NIA cards.”

The Electoral commission is seeking to use the Ghana Card as the only means of registration for acquisition of voters ID cards for 2024 election a move the opposition NDC vehemently opposes.

There is also another conversation that the Ghana Card maybe used as the only ID for the 2024 general elections.