6.5 million Ghanaians registered under ‘Ghana Card’ roll-out – Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has disclosed that as at Wednesday January 8, 2020, some 6.5 million Ghanaians had been registered under the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) ‘Ghana Card’ roll-out.

According to him, 3.7 million cards have so far been issued since the registration exercise commenced in April 2019.

“As at Wednesday 8th January 2020, some 6.5 million Ghanaians have been registered since the exercise commenced in 2019 with 3.7 million cards issued so far and I have assurances from the Executive Secretary of the NIA that the remaining cards will be issued soon.”

President Akufo Addo made this known when he was speaking at the launch of the Results Fair organised by the Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation in Accra on Tuesday, January 14.

Adding that government will continue the process of issuing the National Identification Card; known as the ‘Ghana Card’ also to those below the age of 15.

“Clearly, by the end of the first quarter of next year, we would complete issuing the cards for anybody above 15 years old and continue with those below. This is so critical for us a nation to be able to identify every resident in Ghana,” he explained.

Commencement of Ghana Card registration

In April 2019, the National Identification Authority announced the commencement of the mass ‘Ghana Card’ registration across all sixteen regions of the country.

This project began in the Greater Accra Region from the 29th of April 2019 and ended in the Central Region on the 31st of March 2019.

The exercise, however, entailed the registration and issuance of smart, dual-interface ‘Ghana Cards’ to some estimated 85% of Ghanaians aged 15 years and above.

Following the lack of delay in some centres across the country, the Authority in a statement issued on November 22, 2019 said it would extend mass registration for the ‘Ghana Card’ in the Upper East, Upper West, Bono, Ahafo and Bono East regions.