The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that it will commence the registration of minors aged between 6 and 14 years for the Ghana Card on October 7, 2024. This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure every Ghanaian citizen is included in the national identification system, with the goal of achieving a comprehensive national database.
In the first phase of the registration, the NIA will focus on schools in selected districts across the country. By targeting schools, the NIA hopes to make the registration process more accessible and convenient for both parents and guardians. This approach is intended to streamline the process, allowing eligible children to register for the Ghana Card with minimal disruption to their academic schedules.
Alfred Gazari, Deputy Director of Operations at the NIA, underscored the importance of this registration exercise during an interview with Citi News. He emphasized that incorporating children into the national identification database is crucial for the successful implementation of the national identification system. According to Gazari, this move is a significant step toward achieving the government’s vision of registering every Ghanaian, both within the country and abroad.
“It’s important that we do such registration for children between 6 to 14 years. It’s part of the plan to register every Ghanaian in the country,” Gazari explained. “We have already completed the registration for those aged over 15 years, and we’ve begun the process for children from zero to five years. This is the final phase of the registration for all Ghanaians, including those living outside the country.”
Gazari also emphasized the importance of having the Ghana Card, explaining that it is now an essential tool for conducting official and personal transactions in the country. “Everybody needs the card; without it, you can’t do anything meaningful. It’s important that we include children aged 6 to 14 in this registration process,” he added.
The Ghana Card has become a crucial part of daily life in the country, serving as a form of identification for accessing essential services such as banking, healthcare, and social welfare. In addition, it has become a key requirement for accessing government services, voter registration, and passport acquisition. As the government continues its efforts to ensure the card’s integration into various sectors, it has become increasingly clear that those without the card may face challenges in accessing certain services.
The NIA has already made significant progress in registering individuals aged 15 years and above, and the registration of children aged 0 to 5 years has also begun in certain regions. With the upcoming registration for those between the ages of 6 and 14, the NIA is moving closer to completing its goal of enrolling every Ghanaian into the national identification system. Once completed, this will mark a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to create a robust and inclusive national identification database.
The registration of children for the Ghana Card is expected to provide numerous benefits, not only for the individuals involved but also for the country as a whole. By ensuring that every citizen is registered, the government will have access to accurate and up-to-date population data, which can be used to inform policy decisions and improve the delivery of services. This data will also be essential for planning future initiatives, such as educational programs and healthcare services, that are tailored to the needs of the population.
Parents and guardians are being encouraged to take advantage of the school-based registration process to ensure their children are registered without delay. The NIA has assured the public that the registration process will be efficient and that all necessary measures will be put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of the children during the exercise. The use of schools as registration centers is expected to minimize the logistical challenges that may arise from large-scale public registration campaigns and provide a controlled environment for the registration process.
As part of the broader national identification project, the Ghana Card registration for minors is an important step in the government’s long-term plan to digitize the country’s economy and improve governance. By providing every citizen with a unique identification number, the government aims to streamline the delivery of services, reduce fraud, and enhance transparency in both the public and private sectors.
The NIA has indicated that it will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of the registration exercise. The Authority is confident that the school-based registration process will be a success and that the remaining phases of the Ghana Card registration project will be completed on schedule.
The introduction of the Ghana Card has already had a transformative impact on the country, and the inclusion of children in the national identification system is expected to further strengthen the card’s role as a vital tool for both individuals and the government.
As the NIA prepares to roll out the registration for minors aged 6 to 14 years, the Authority is urging parents and guardians to ensure that their children are registered and receive their Ghana Cards in a timely manner.
