The National Identification Authority (NIA) is set to resume the registration and issuance of Ghana Cards on Monday, August 28, 2023.
This means Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who do not have a Ghana card can register.
However, not all of NIA’s offices will be rendering this service. These include NIA Regional Offices in Kumasi, Sunyani, Techiman, Koforidua, Tamale, Ho, Takoradi and Sefwi Wiawso.
The national exercise will be conducted in two phases. This means there is a time frame for when you can register.
So the first phase is strictly for public sector workers on the government’s payroll.
This phase will last for 10 working days, beginning on Monday, August 28, 2023 and ending on Friday, 8th September 2023.
All such prospective applicants will be required to provide their July 2023 Payslips in addition to meeting the mandatory registration requirements.
NIA will only accept and use for registration the name of the public sector worker as captured on the July 2023 Payslip of an applicant.
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, 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.
The list of persons qualified to vouch for an applicant is:
a. A practising or retired professional teacher (including principals, headmasters & head teachers)
b. A Gazetted Chief
c. A practicing or retired Magistrate or Judge
d. A practicing or retired licenced Professional e.g. doctor, nurse, lawyer, accountant, engineer, architect etc.
e. A serving or retired civil/public servant.
f. A serving or retired Clergyman.
g. An Imam
h. A serving or retired Catechist.
i. A serving or retired member of the security services including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Prison Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, BNI, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service of the Ghana Revenue Service and National Security
j. A current or past Member of Parliament, An Assembly or Unit Committee
NIA 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 this registration exercise.
Phase 2:
The second phase will begin on Monday, 11th September 2023 for all Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who have not yet applied for the Ghana Card.
During Phase Two, Ghanaians who wish 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.
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 (e.g., correction of name).
Meanwhile, the NIA says its special registration, Household and Institutional Registration Service, is still on the table.
The Household Registration costs GHS150.00 per applicant while the Institutional Registration costs 100.00 per applicant along with logistics fees.