The National Identification Authority (NIA), has announced its plan to resume the registration and issuance of Ghana Cards to Ghanaians aged 15 years and above, who are first-time applicants at no cost to them.

The service, which will commence on August 28, 2023, will be available to such qualified applicants at eight (8) out of NIA’s 16 Regional Offices and all 276 district offices nationwide.

Regional offices where the specified service will not be available are Kumasi - Ashanti Region, Sunyani - Bono Region, Techiman - Bono East Region, Koforidua - Eastern Region, Tamale - Northern Region, Ho - Volta Region, Takoradi - Western Region, and Sefwi Wiawso - Western North Region.

According to the NIA, “The resumption of this registration exercise has become possible due to NIA’s 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, eligible Ghanaians who have not yet registered for the Ghana Card can do so.”

Meanwhile, to facilitate a smooth and well-organised process, the registration will be carried out in two phases.

“The first phase will last a total of ten (10) working days beginning on Monday, 28th August 2023 and 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 NIA said.

And 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 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,” the NIA added.

It further urged qualified Ghanaian citizens who are yet to register for the Ghana Card to take advantage the 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.”