PHOTO: Professor Ken Attafuah, former Executive Director of the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has left over 10,000 young recruits in limbo, failing to pay them for two months after deploying them nationwide for the under-15 Ghana Card registration exercise. These workers, who committed their time and energy to a critical national assignment, are now stranded far from home, unable to afford the journey back to vote in the December 7 elections.
One recruit, speaking anonymously to The Hawk, painted a bleak picture: “We trusted the system, hoping for fair treatment, but we’ve been left broke and abandoned. Many of us don’t know how we’ll survive, let alone make it home to vote.”
This is more than a bureaucratic misstep—it’s a breach of trust. These young people answered the nation’s call, only to be rewarded with financial distress and uncertainty. The NIA must act immediately to pay these workers, not just as a moral obligation but as a demonstration of respect for their contribution.
The ramifications of this negligence extend far beyond financial hardship. By leaving these recruits stranded, the NIA risks disenfranchising thousands of voters, undermining the integrity of the upcoming election. It also sets a dangerous precedent: if we cannot care for those who serve their country, how can we expect future generations to step forward?
The solution is simple: pay these workers now. Their wages are not just a contractual obligation—they’re a lifeline. The NIA must prioritize this issue and ensure these young Ghanaians can return home with dignity to participate in shaping the nation’s future.
As a country, we owe it to these workers to correct this wrong. Their dedication deserves recognition, and their voices deserve to be heard—not silenced by financial neglect. Let’s do right by them, and in doing so, uphold the values of fairness and justice that Ghana stands for.
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