The National Identification Authority (NIA) has finally suspended the ongoing mass registration exercise in the Eastern region.
The suspension comes after two Ghanaians sued the Authority over their decision to keep the mass registration exercise ongoing despite the presidential directive against public gathering in the wake of coronavirus.
In a writ filed at the High court, the plaintiffs among other things said :”That in the circumstances, I pray this Honourable Court for an order of interlocutory injunction against the Respondent, its agents, privies and assigns from continuing with the registration and issuance of the Ghana card in the Eastern Region of Ghana pending the final determination of our Human Rights application”.
Many Ghanaians have berated the NIA over the insistence on the exercise despite the national attempt to control the spread of the deadly virus.
So far Ghana has recorded 16 cases of the deadly COVID-19.
In a statement, the NIA stated that Pursuant to the service of an application for Interlocutory injunction restraining NIA from continuing with the mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region, the exercise has been suspended effective Saturday, 21. March 2020 pending the final determination of the application for an interlocutory injunction.
The statement added that all field officials are required to report for work and to render proper accounting of registration equipment materials and consumables in their custody to their Supervising Registration Officers (SR0s) with immediate effect.
Below are some of the directives in the statement
SUSPENSION OF MASS REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN THE EASTERN REGION
Pursuant to the service of an application for Interlocutory injunction restraining NIA from continuing with the mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region, all field officials are to take notice of, and adhere to, the following directives:
1. The Mass Registration Exercise currently underway in the Eastern Region has been suspended effective Saturday, 21. March 2020 pending the final determination of the application for interlocutory injunction.
2. All field officials are required to report for work and to render proper accounting of registration equipment materials and consumables in their custody to their Supervising Registration Officers (SR0s) with immediate effect.
3 All SROs are to hand over consumables and equipment under their care to their District Registration Officers (DR0s) who will confirm the inventory while awaiting further directives from the Head of Operations, Colonel Peter Kofi Ghansah (Rtd).
4. After accounting for registration materials under their control and/or Care all field officials are to return to their regular places of abode until further notice. Additional information will be communicated in this regard.
While away from registration centres, all field officials are entreated to strictly adhere to the prescribed protocols on preventing the contraction and spread of COvID-19.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
