By Rashidatu IBRAHIM
Following a successful pilot registration in North America, the full global rollout of Ghana Card registration and issuance to Ghanaians abroad is set to start on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 in Denmark-Europe.
This follows a successful pilot registration of Ghanaians living abroad in Canada and the United States of America by the National Identification Authority (NIA).
Satisfied with pilot registration exercise’s outcome in Northern America – Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, Washington D.C. and New York in the United States – the Authority is ready for the global rollout.
The initiative fulfils NIA’s mandate to register all Ghanaians at home and abroad.
Ahead of the official launch on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, officials from the NIA and its technical partners – Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS) – are training staff of the Ghana Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, to serve as registration officers at the Mission.
First Ghanaian in Europe to get Ghana Card
Significantly, John Djomaakwei Quaye, a staff at the Ghana Embassy, became the first Ghanaian to be issued a Ghana Card in Europe.
Stakeholder engagement
Following the training of embassy staff, NIA will engage with Ghanaians living in Denmark and Sweden on Sunday, October 20, 2024 to apprise them of activities being undertaken to ensure seamless registration, as well as providing information on the registration requirements and process.
Launch
On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the NIA will launch its global rollout for Ghana Card registration in Copenhagen, Denmark – with Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, participating in the launch virtually.
The event will be chaired by Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark, Sylvia Naa Adaawa Annoh.
From Denmark, NIA will move the registration train to Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Brussels and Paris for the exercise’s first phase.
Simplified registration process
According to NIA, the authority has simplified the Ghana Card registration process for citizens abroad: allowing applicants to start the registration process online by filling registration forms, paying the necessary fees and booking enrolment appointments from the comfort of their homes – after which applicants visit the Ghanaian mission for in-person biometric capture.
Key requirements and eligibility
The registration is open to individuals aged six and abov with valid Ghanaian passports and birth certificates. Applicants without these documents can complete the process using a vouching system.
However, individuals who have renounced their Ghanaian citizenship or non-Ghanaian spouses are not eligible for the card. Dual citizens, who can prove their Ghanaian heritage are also eligible to apply.
Vouching process
For applicants lacking a valid passport or birth certificate, the vouching process allows two non-relatives or a relative with a Ghana Card to vouch for them.
This process is completed through a virtual interview with the Commissioner for Oaths and the voucher.
How to register
To register for the Ghana Card, Ghanaians abroad can visit the web portal at www. register.nia.gov.gh and follow the guidelines, complete the application form, upload required documents and submit the application online.
Then the applicant is required to book a virtual interview for application review; and after the interview visit the Ghana Mission for biometric capture, using the encrypted QR code received via email.
