The Minister responsible for Public Sector Reform, Hon. Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba has paid a working visit to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to explore areas of collaboration aimed at improving service delivery, transparency, and accountability in the public sector.
Speaking during the visit, the Minister said the engagement was to gain first-hand knowledge of the NIA’s operations and identify reforms that could be aligned with the government’s public sector strategy. She disclosed plans to finalise a draft framework for a “one-stop shop” service delivery system that would streamline access to public services without taking away the mandates of existing institutions. Similar models, she noted, are already operational in Uganda and Kenya.
She emphasised the importance of robust public relations to inform Ghanaians about NIA’s work and expressed keen interest in expanding student registrations, particularly for children from birth. “If we register people at birth, we can track them until retirement, clean up the system, and create space for the youth to access jobs,” she noted, urging more district offices, staff reorientation, and secure data-sharing with other agencies.
The acting CEO of the National Identification Authority (NIA) is Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, outlined the Authority’s achievements, including the registration of over 18 million people, the operation of 15 premium centres, and the recent launch of an online registration service. However, he admitted technical challenges had delayed the service’s expansion to other regions, a situation expected to be addressed within two months.
He also raised critical operational concerns, citing underfunding, a $3.4 million monthly debt to private sector partners, and an annual budget of GH₵7.9 million, of which only GH₵1.9 million has been released. He appealed for legislative and policy support, including amendments to LI 211 to allow biometric verification for identity checks, the placement of NIA under the Interior Ministry, and measures to stop staff from joining unions.
The CEO stressed the need for government agencies to fully comply with the mandate requiring the Ghana Card for public services, saying it would help curb payroll fraud, impersonation in social intervention programmes, and the persistence of “ghost names.” He also revealed plans to resume registration for children aged 0–5 and to launch an e-wallet next year to facilitate government payments.
The Minister assured the NIA of her office’s readiness to work closely with them to ensure reforms translate into efficient, secure, and citizen-focused service delivery.