Identification exercise takes break

Page 20
04-11-08

THE national identification exercise which began on July 1, this year is on a review break in the Eastern Region to enable the National Identification Authority (NIA) to retool ahead of the second phase of the exercise.
The break, among other things, is to ensure that the equipment and materials used for the exercise are put in place.
The Head of the Information Department of the NIA, Ms Bertha Dzeble, told the Daily Graphic that the authorities had met the drivers and the technical team of the NIA as part of the review and retooling.
According to her, a few things were left to be cleared, after which the second phase of the exercise in the Eastern Region would commence.
She said areas covered under the first phase in the region included the Birim North and South, Kwahu West, Kwaebibirem, Atiwa, East and West Akyem, Suhum and New Juaben districts.
The second phase would involve the Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, Fanteakwa, Asuogyaman, Kwahu South, Afram Plains, Akuapem North and Akuapem South districts.
Ms Dzeble explained that the division of regions into two during the exercise was to help make the exercise less stressful, since the use of two machines at a centre shortened queues.
She said the apathy shown in the course of the exercise was a problem, as people waited till the last minute before rushing to register, saying such a practice resulted in the formation of long queues.
Ms Dzeble said after the Eastern Region, the exercise would move to the Volta Region, after which the Greater Accra Region would follow, adding that in every region about 6,000 personnel would be deployed during the exercise.
On the issue of allowances, she said the procedure through which the NIA Secretariat had to go before the allowances were paid was what led to the delays, adding that the matter was being addressed.
She deplored the attack on personnel by some people who wanted to be attended to after jumping queues.
Ms Dzeble said five of such attacks took place during the first phase of the exercise in the Eastern Region, saying that in one instance, the police had to be called in to save the situation.
The matter, she said, had been taken up by the NIA authorities who had alerted the Police Administration to that effect.
She, therefore, appealed to the public to desist from attacking registration officials but rather give them the necessary support to do a good job.