NIA to resume registration exercise for first time applicants
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced its intention to resume the registration and issuance of Ghana Cards to Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who are applying for the card for the first time. This service will be provided at no cost to the applicants.
Starting from August 28, 2023, qualified first-time applicants can access this service at eight out of the NIA’s 16 Regional Offices, as well as at all 276 district offices across the country.
It’s important to note that this service will not be available at the following regional offices: Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, Sunyani in the Bono Region, Techiman in the Bono East Region, Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Tamale in the Northern Region, Ho in the Volta Region, Takoradi in the Western Region, and Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region.
The move to provide free registration and issuance of Ghana Cards to first-time applicants aims to make the identification process more accessible and affordable for eligible individuals. The Ghana Card serves as a form of identification and is essential for various transactions and interactions within the country.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has provided additional details regarding the resumption of the registration and issuance of Ghana Cards to eligible citizens aged 15 years and above who are first-time applicants. This initiative is in response to receiving 484,000 blank cards from its technical partners, Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS II), and CalBank PLC, through an initiative by the Ministry of Finance.
To ensure an organized and efficient process, the registration will be conducted in two phases:
- Phase One (August 28 to September 8, 2023): This phase will last for ten working days and is exclusively reserved for public sector workers on the government payroll who have not yet registered for the Ghana Card.
- Phase Two (September 11, 2023, onwards): This phase is for all Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who have not yet applied for the Ghana Card. During this phase, individuals can also replace lost, stolen, or damaged Ghana Cards, as well as correct their names or dates of birth according to legal requirements.
The NIA emphasizes that the Ghana Card is a mandatory identification document for citizens engaging in various commercial transactions and accessing a wide range of public and private services in Ghana. This initiative aims to provide eligible citizens with the opportunity to obtain the Ghana Card and enjoy its benefits.
The NIA also clarified that this free registration service will be available at eight of its regional offices and all 276 district offices nationwide, except in certain specified regional offices.
