Keta: Some applicants of the National Identification Card in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have expressed frustration over the National Identification Authority's (NIA) announcement of industrial action and closure of the offices. The strike has left many applicants worried about when they would receive their cards, which are essential for various activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Abigail Gbedanu, who applied for the card just a few days before the strike, lamented about how she wanted the card to apply for a job and expressed worry about the delay the strike would cause to her plans. She explained that the National ID Card is an essential document that is required for activities such as job applications and accessing government services, and without it, many applicants would find it difficult to access these services. Madam Gbedanu stated that the strike has caused frustration and anxiety among many who have applied for the card and were eagerly waiting to receive it, but the strike has brought the process to a standstill.
Miss Angela Srumawuda Sodzi, a new applicant who is yet to go through the processes, told GNA that the National ID Card is an important document for various aspects of life, serving as proof of identity and citizenship required for many official transactions. She expressed concern about the uncertainty surrounding the strike and when she would receive her card, appealing to the NIA to provide a clear timeline for resolving the industrial action.
The need for a timely resolution to the industrial action is apparent. Applicants are eagerly waiting to receive their cards, and a delay in issuing them can have significant consequences for their plans and livelihoods. The industrial action by the NIA has caused frustration and anxiety among applicants in Keta, with many appealing to the authority to resolve the strike and issue the National ID cards without further delays.
The staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) have declared an indefinite strike over delays in the payment of their Operational Support Allowance, raising concerns about disruptions to Ghana Card registration and verification services nationwide. The strike started after the Union issued a communiqu© on June 23, highlighting the unresolved allowances and demanding urgent intervention. The industrial action, which commenced on Tuesday, June 24, is led by the NIA Division of the Public Services Workers' Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana, stating that staff could only resume work when a timeline and a written confirmation are received from the Ministry of Finance.
The GNA observed during a visit to the Keta NIA office that all the offices were closed with no staff present.