All regional offices of the National Identification Authority (NIA), will commence operations in the 16 regions from Wednesday, November 3, 2021, the Governing Board Chairman of the Authority,Mr Abel Edusei, has assured Ghanaians.
He said, this would include the Authority’s permanent offices in all districts, as part of measures to bring the operations of the NIA to the door steps of those who might want to acquire the National Identification Card.
Mr Edusei gave the assurance in his remarks after the inauguration of a 10-member governing board of the NIA on Wednesday in Accra.
He said, these new established offices would offer the registration of all citizens from age zero to infinity at no fee,issuance of printed Ghana Cards to applicants who had previously gone through the registration process, and registration of all foreigners legally and permanently resident in Ghana at a fee.
Mr Edusei added that, replacement of lost, stolen, damaged or defaced Ghana Cards would be at a fee, whilst update of personal records of applicants in the National Identity Register would be done with no cost.
“Plans are also well underway to embark on registration of Ghanaians in the Diaspora in the very near future.
“The National Identification System (NIS) project, has gone through several major stages which have contributed to the creation of a system that is uniquely positioned to enhance Ghana’s development,”he said.
Mr Edusei said, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and several other challenges, the Board and staff of the Authority remained relentless in the discharge of their duties.
“Our determination not to succumb to these challenges enabled us to register more than half of the Ghanaian populace, as well as integrate and harmonise data with state institutions such as the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), the Controller and Accountant General Department (RAGD), and to initiate the verification platform onboarding process with all the universal banks,” he said.
The Interior Minister, Mr Ambrose Dery, who inaugurated the governing board said a reliable, accurate and credible data NIS system remained the pivot of government’s efforts towards the digitisation of the Ghanaian economy.
He explained that, such data would assist the security agencies on identities of all persons which would positively impact their operations.
Members of the governing board are Professor Panin (President Nominee), Professor Olivia Anku-Tsede (President Nominee), Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang (SNNIT Representative), Professor Samuel Kobina Annim (Ghana Statistical Service Representative).
The rest are Mr Amisshadai Owusu-Amoah (GRA Representative), Mr Kwame Ansah-Takyi(Ghana Immigration Service Representative), Dr Lydia Dsane Selby(National Health Insurance Authority Representative), Mr Seth Kissi (Birth and Death Registry Representative) and Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah (Executive Secretary NIA)
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
