The strike by staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) is beginning to take a toll on citizens, as scores of people who visited NIA offices across the country have been forced to return home without the Ghana Cards they urgently need.

The strike, initiated by the NIA under the Public Services Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), is a response to the government's failure to implement the group’s newly approved scheme of service, which has led to a breakdown in their working conditions.

As a result, all NIA offices, including the Techiman Municipal Office and the Bono-East Regional Office, remain closed.

This action has left many members of the public frustrated, especially those who require their Ghana Cards for various essential purposes.

Speaking to JoyNews, some individuals expressed their concerns.

“I lost my Ghana Card, and that’s what I use for all my documentation. I took a risk travelling from my community to this place, and after all this stress, I am not getting what brought me here. The money I’ve spent—and even when they resume, what I will use to come back will be another problem.”

Another man, who recently lost his card in a fire, expressed a similar struggle; “I lost my card and I’ve just been told that the NIA is on strike. I went to the bank for a transaction and they also demanded my Ghana Card, which is why I came here.”

The situation has left many Ghanaians in dire need of the government’s intervention.

“The government should please attend to them and solve their problems so they can come back to work and help us. If the government can do something about it, we are pleading with them to do it now, because we can’t do anything without the card.”

In the Ashanti region, NIA offices have been shut down, leaving several applicants disappointed.

One of the frustrated individuals said: “I came here to get my Ghana Card, but they are on strike. I asked when they are resuming, and they said till further notice. So I have to go back home without my card.”

The strike continues to create challenges for citizens across the country as they await a resolution from the government to address the demands of the NIA workers.