The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is accusing the National Identification Authority (NIA) of mainly recruiting National Democratic Congress (NDC) sympathizers as registration officials for next week’s national identification exercise in the Region. The exercise officially begins in Ashanti Region on March 22. Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Fredrick Anto, told a news conference in Kumasi on Monday that rather than advertising the position for interested persons to apply; the NIA is conniving with District Chief Executives to recruit NDC sympathizers for the exercise. Mr Antoh believes the registration, which is an important national exercise, should be devoid of partisan and parochial interests, Luv FM’s Elton John Brobbey reported. He said the NIA’s target of recruiting teachers has been ignored and therefore called for a thorough investigation into the background of those recruited before the exercise begins. “We are reminding the NIA and the government that the exercise is doomed to fail if neutrality and impartiality are not…exhibited,” he said. Mr Antoh also called for the arrest of some NDC thugs whom he alleged attacked two officials of the NIA on 13 March. Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Dr William Ahadzie, tells Luv News the authority cannot ignore the role of district chief executives in the exercise. He however insists those recruited are very well qualified for the job. “We have said that this exercise is non-partisan and we are recruiting people who have the basic qualification we are looking for,” he insisted, and urged the NPP to retract the accusation. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana