Reaching Every Ghanaian: NIA Begins International Ghana Card Registration
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Global Rollout of Ghana Card Begins in Denmark on October 22, 2024
The National Identification Authority (NIA) will officially launch the global rollout of Ghana Card registration for Ghanaians living abroad on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The launch will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, marking a key milestone in the NIA’s efforts to register citizens living outside Ghana. This follows a successful pilot phase held in Canada and the United States, during which Ghanaians in Ottawa, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and New York participated.
Having achieved positive outcomes in North America, the NIA is now focusing on expanding the initiative globally, with the first phase beginning in Europe. As part of preparations, staff at the Ghanaian Embassy in Copenhagen have undergone specialized training to manage the registration process. The training, conducted by the NIA in collaboration with its technical partner, Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS), ensures that embassy personnel are well equipped to serve as registration officers.
During the preliminary phase, Mr. John Djomaakwei Quaye, a member of the embassy staff, became the first Ghanaian in Europe to receive the Ghana Card, symbolizing the commencement of the rollout on the continent. Ahead of the official launch, NIA officials will meet with Ghanaian residents in Denmark and Sweden on October 20, 2024, to explain the registration process, eligibility criteria, and other relevant information.
The formal launch on October 22 will feature a virtual appearance by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and will be chaired by Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark, Mrs. Sylvia Naa Adaawa Annoh. After Denmark, the first phase of the rollout will continue in other European cities, including Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Brussels, and Paris.
To simplify the process, the NIA has introduced an online registration system that offers convenience to applicants. Ghanaians abroad can initiate their applications online by filling out forms, uploading required documents, paying registration fees, and scheduling appointments for in-person biometric data collection. This streamlined process enables applicants to manage much of the registration from home before visiting a Ghanaian mission for final verification and biometric capture.
Eligibility for the Ghana Card includes citizens aged six and above with valid Ghanaian passports or birth certificates. Applicants who lack these documents can utilize a vouching system, where two non-relatives or a relative with a valid Ghana Card can confirm their identity. This step involves a virtual interview with a Commissioner for Oaths and the voucher. However, individuals who have renounced their Ghanaian citizenship or non-Ghanaian spouses are not eligible, although dual citizens who can prove their Ghanaian heritage may apply.
To begin the registration process, applicants are required to visit the NIA’s online portal at www.register.nia.gov.gh. After completing the application and booking a virtual interview for review, they will receive an encrypted QR code via email, which they must present during their biometric capture at the embassy.
This global rollout aligns with the NIA’s mission to ensure that all Ghanaians, whether residing within the country or abroad, are registered and issued the Ghana Card. With this initiative, the NIA aims to enhance access to identification services, providing Ghanaians worldwide with a standardized form of identification essential for personal, financial, and administrative purposes.
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