The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Yayra Koku, has welcomed proposed amendments to the NIA Act 707, stressing that the changes will significantly enhance the Authority’s collaboration with security and intelligence agencies.
According to him, one of the major challenges the NIA has faced over the years is its shifting institutional alignment, which has undermined its ability to establish consistent partnerships. The Authority has, at different times, been placed under the Ministry of State in charge of Public Services, the Ministry of Communications, and the Ministry responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation. It currently operates under the Ministry of the Interior.
“These changes have disrupted our work and weakened coordination with security agencies,” Koku explained. “If the amendment is passed, the NIA will be permanently under the Ministry of the Interior, and that stability will allow us to strengthen enforcement and align more closely with national security structures.”
The amendment, once approved by Parliament, is expected to give security agencies direct access to the NIA’s database, a move Koku says will bolster the fight against crime, fraud, and identity-related offenses.
He emphasised that placing the Authority firmly under the Interior Ministry will not only ensure institutional stability but also enhance the credibility of Ghana’s identification system. “This will help the NIA function not just as a service agency but also as a strategic partner in safeguarding the nation,” he noted in a Facebook post.
