The National Identification Authority (NIA) has indefinitely suspended its mass registration of Ghana Card in the Eastern Region until further notice.

In a statement signed by Francis Palmdeti, the Head of Corporate Affairs of the Authority, the Authority explained that “the decision to suspend the registration follows a careful assessment of the exercise in the region so far.

“It also takes into account the current trend in the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana since the suspension of the mass registration exercise on Saturday, 21st March 2020, following the service on the NIA of an interlocutory injunction application.”

This comes after two citizens Mark Oliver Kevor and Emmanuel Okrah filed a case in court asking that the NIA be stopped from carrying out its registration exercise.

They maintain the exercise is contrary to the social distancing directives issued by President Akufo-Addo in the wake of the Covid-19 cases recorded in Ghana.

A different division of the High Court presided over by Justice Daniel Mensah on March 23 granted a similar request filed by businessman Prince Tabi and 29 others.

However, the High Court presided over by Anthony Oppong threw the case out stating that the application for an injunction is based on a grievous error and misunderstanding of the President’s social distancing directive.

The NIA in the statement expressed their gratitude to the court for the ruling but emphasised on their decision to suspend activities indefinitely.

“The NIA welcomes the dismissal by the High Court of the interlocutory injunction application and the substantive suit.

“Nonetheless, NIA will continue to suspend its mass registration operations in the Eastern Region until further notice.”

They, however, stated that “the NIA will use the period of suspension to continue with its preparations toward the establishment of its Regional, Municipal and District Offices and arrange for the co-location of its registration services at some of its cognate institutions such as National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), among other responsibilities. “

“Meanwhile, NIA will continue to observe developments relating to the management of COVID-19 in Ghana and will determine, at the appropriate time, when and how to resume its mass registration operations,” the statement concluded.