The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the arrest of six staff members and the termination of seven others over alleged extortion during the Free Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged six to 14 at the Galaka registration centre in the Upper East Region.

In a press release dated October 29, 2026, the NIA said the six staff members were identified by parents of applicants as having demanded money before registering their children.

The suspects have been arrested by the Bawku West District Police and are assisting with investigations.

The authority said it had also terminated the appointments of seven other members of the registration team following an internal review. They were found to have been aware of the alleged misconduct but failed to report it.

The NIA reiterated that registration must follow approved procedures and stressed that no staff member was authorised to demand unauthorised payments from applicants or their parents.

“The NIA takes allegations of misconduct seriously and will continue to take appropriate disciplinary action to protect the integrity of its registration processes and ensure that the public receives services fairly and professionally,” the statement said.

The authority urged members of the public to report suspected misconduct through its official channels.

The statement was signed by Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of the NIA’s Corporate Affairs Directorate.