The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has said that if his outfit is properly equipped financially, they can register the about 2.6 million adults who are yet to get their Ghana cards by the end of 2023.

Speaking on The Probe on JoyNews, Prof Kenneth Attafuah said that the NIA has 292 offices across the country readily available to Ghanaians who offer themselves for the process.

He stated that the NIA has already registered about 17.4 million Ghanaians

“Strategically, during this continuous registration phase, we limited ourselves to Ghanaians aged 15 and above. If you put the total number of Ghanaians under 15 years, they’re about 12 million. If you look at the population of Ghanaians aged 15 years and above, who have not yet registered for the Ghana Card, that’s approximately 2 .6 [million].”

“So if we have the means, properly equipped, financially speaking, NIA is in a position to register and issue Ghana cards to Ghanaians who offer themselves for registration, aged 15 and above, and we can do that before the end of this year.”

Prof Attafuah indicated that the NIA is obligated to give legal identity to every Ghanaian and they have plans to capture everyone including those in the diaspora should they have the funds available.

“We have plans to do so, to register those who are 15 and above who offer themselves. They have to come to us for that to happen. We have offices, we have personnel, we have equipment, and we are properly positioned,” he noted.

Prof Attafuah added that for kids below the age of 15, the NIA will soon begin their registration adding that they started a pilot in July registering six week old babies.

“We will work with the NHIA, they have equipment that’s very much like ours, and they have personnel accustomed to the use of that equipment, as soon as funds are available we will begin the registration,” the NIA Executive Secretary said.

“We will work with parents and teachers. We will go to schools, work with teachers and agree that on this day at this time, we will register class three pupils. For parents we will meet with them, engage and those who can apply for their kids online, they will fill the forms, and attach their Ghana cards.”

“Those who cannot will be supported and teachers will assist. We will enter into a healthy relationship with GES, and teacher associations to make sure that it is stress-free. If we can do only 20 children a day, we will do so; a very well programmed tailored arrangement that will ensure it is stress-free.”