The National Identification Authority (NIA) has disclosed that it will resume the registration and issuance of Ghana Cards to Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who are first-time applicants, free of cost.

According to the Authority, the process will take place in all of its regional offices where the specified service can be accessed but will not be available in some offices since those offices operate NIA’s Premium Registration Service. Such areas, it noted, include Kumasi, Sunyani, Techiman, Koforidua, Tamale, Ho, Takoradi and Sefwi Wiawso.

“The National Identification Authority (NIA) is pleased to inform the general public that, effective 28th August 2023, it will resume the registration and issuance of Ghana Cards to Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who are first-time applicants free of cost. This service will be available to such qualified applicants at eight out of NIA’s 16 Regional Offices and all 276 District Offices of the NIA nationwide…”
National Identification Authority

The NIA indicated that the resumption of the registration exercise has become possible due to its receipt of 484,000 blank cards from its technical partners – Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS II) and CalBank PLC, following an initiative by the Ministry of Finance. By this development, it urged eligible Ghanaians who have not yet registered for the Ghana Card to do so.

To facilitate a smooth and well-organized process, the Authority noted that the registration will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, it explained that it will last a total of ten working days beginning on Monday, 28th August 2023, ending on Friday, 8th September 2023.

“This phase will be reserved exclusively for Public Sector Workers on the GoG payroll who are yet to register for the Ghana Card. The objective is to ensure that such workers are enabled to be verified with their Ghana Card on the payroll system of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.”
National Identification Authority

Also, it indicated that the 10-day registration exercise will focus exclusively on the said Public Sector Workers who will be applying for the Ghana Card for the first time. All such prospective applicants, it noted, will be required to provide their July 2023 Payslips in addition to meeting the mandatory registration requirements.

“NIA will only accept and use for the registration the name of the Public Sector Worker as captured on the July 2023 Payslip of an applicant.”
National Identification Authority

Furthermore, the NIA stated that the mandatory documents to be presented for registration are a genuine Birth Certificate, a valid Ghanaian Passport or a Certificate of Acquired Citizenship/ Naturalization, as may be necessary and appropriate. In the absence of any of the mandatory documents, it highlighted that a prospective applicant may be vouched for by a relative or two persons who possess a Ghana Card and know the applicant to be a Ghanaian.

Among other qualified persons to vouch for such an applicant, NIA stated that a practicing or retired professional teacher (including principals, headmasters & head teachers), a Gazetted Chief, a practicing or retired Magistrate or Judge, a practicing or retired licensed Professional, a serving or retired civil/public servant, a serving or retired Clergyman or an Imam can do so.

Replacement of stolen, damaged Ghana Cards

Meanwhile, the NIA emphasized that it will not entertain or accept requests for the replacement of lost, stolen or damaged Ghana Cards or the correction or changing of names or dates of birth during Phase One of the registration exercise.

However, it underscored that in the second phase which is scheduled to begin on Monday, 11th September 2023 for all Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who have not yet applied for the Ghana Card, Ghanaians wishing to replace their lost, stolen or damaged Ghana Cards or to correct their names or dates of birth may do so in accordance with law at any of the NIA’s 286 operational offices nationwide offering the free registration.

“Qualified Ghanaian citizens who are yet to register for the Ghana Card are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity as the Ghana Card serves as the sole mandatory document for the identification of citizens seeking to engage in various commercial transactions or to access a wide range of public and private services in Ghana.”
National Identification Authority

While first-time registration for the Ghana Card will be free at all NIA’s offices, NIA revealed that there is a statutory fee of GHS 34.50 for the replacement of a Ghana Card or for making changes in a person’s record such as correction of names.

Moreover, the Authority stated that with the availability of blank cards nationwide, it is now in a position to resume its Household and Institutional Registration Services. These services, it revealed, allow households with five or more Ghanaians and organizations with 50 or more Ghanaians to request for registration services at a specified home or location at a fee.

“The Household Registration costs GHS150.00 per applicant while the Institutional Registration costs 100.00 per applicant along with logistics fees.”
National Identification Authority