The National Identification Authority (NIA) is to begin the mass registration exercise in the last zone of the Accra Region from Monday, February 1 to Thursday, February 11. The areas are Adabraka, Tudu, Asylum Down, Osu, Ringway Estates, Labone, Cantonments, La, Burma Camp, Teshie, Nungua, Batsona, Alajo and Pig Farm. The rest are Kotobabi, New Town, Kokomlemle, Roman Ridge, Airport Residential Area, Dzorwulu, Abelenkpe, Shiashie, Okponglo, Legon, Mempeasem, Maamobi, Nima and Kanda. A press statement issued by the Public Affairs Department of the NIA reminded the public that the exercise is free. The NIA said it was, therefore, an offence for anyone to solicit or offer incentives in any form in order to register or be registered. The statement asked the public to take along any number or all of their identification documents (IDs): baptismal cards or certificates, birth certificates, birth weighing cards, voter ID cards, passports, driving licence, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) card, National Health Insurance ID card, sworn affidavit, immigration permit, dual citizenship certificates and naturalisation certificates. It indicated that persons without any IDs may be registered on oath. The statement reminded the public that the collection slips issued at the registration centres were not National ID cards, and said they were only to facilitate the collection of the ID cards when they were ready. It said collection slips were not required to be laminated. According to the statement, regional offices would be opened this year to register persons who were unable to register during the mass registration. It asked the public to report any cases of fraud to the NIA on 021-933674 or to the nearest police station. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana