In a stringent effort to streamline Ghana’s economy, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the nationwide issuance of a national ID card called the Ghana Card that will begin Monday, May 28.

“The strategy is to be in the Greater Accra Region for about two to three months registering every Ghanaian and then we go to the Volta Region, Northern Region, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Western Region, Ashanti Region, Eastern Region and then we end with the Central Region,” NIA CEO Ken Attafuah told Citi News.

Related: National ID system law inadequate; new bill to be laid before Parliament- Akufo-Addo

He added that the registration officials will be located throughout various parts of the country including the Flagstaff House, the Parliament House, judicial house premises and security institutions.

In March, the NPP administration issued the NIA a fleet of cars to assist with logistics and other coordination endeavours to ensure a successful rollout of the program.

 National Identification Authority CEO Ken Attafuah

“Once Ghana has a unique database where everybody is registered and everybody has a unique number, the benefits for all of us will be very apparent. Banks can easily verify your identity when you open a bank account; same with SSNIT,” said Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia at a ceremony where the vehicles were handed to the NIA. "Getting a passport will become one of the easiest things that will be available to us. Acquiring a driver's license will be much easier.” He added that implementation of the project would fulfill President Akufo-Addo’s vision of a Ghana beyond aid.

The cards will collect biometric traits of individuals and be more in line with “current trends," but the government assures that the NIA will safeguard the integrity, confidentiality and security of data it receives, said Akufo-Addo.

Twenty-seven hundred commissioners of oath will collaborate with the NIA to ensure proper rollout of the program, which is predicted to cost  $1.2 billion dollars over the next 15 years. Reports show the government will cover roughly half of the cost.

To register, residents must provide one of the following documents:

1. Passport

2. Residential permit

Qualified foreign nationals must purchase a scratch card called FIMS to receive an ID. FIMS can be purchased at the NIA Premium Lounge Centre or any CAL Bank branch.